NBA Trades: Lakers land two huge upgrades in a possible Blazers and Raptors swap https://t.co/vdJba0StK7

— LakerTom (@LakerTom) August 6, 2024

Lakers Receive:
-Bruce Brown
-Jerami Grant

Raptors Receive:
-D’Angelo Russell
-Jalen Hood-Schifino
-2025 second-rounder

Blazers Receive:
-Rui Hachimura
-Gabe Vincent
-Christian Wood
-2029 top-3 protected first
-Top 55 protected 2026 2nd

How does Rob Pelinka still have a job…

Y’all hearing this? pic.twitter.com/o7MYKlSQq9

— ²³ (@SpeakContext) August 6, 2024

OFFICIAL: Coaching staff is set. pic.twitter.com/N3PsVK2z6c

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) August 5, 2024

The Lakers officially announce Nate McMillan, Scott Brooks, Bob Beyer, Greg St. Jean, Lindsey Harding and Beau Levesque as assistant coaches on JJ Redick’s staff. They have also added Michael Wexler as head video coordinator. pic.twitter.com/iew03GTUYy

— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) August 5, 2024

JJ Redick on his Lakers coaching staff: "Through an intentional and thorough process, we've brought together an experienced, diverse and dedicated coaching staff. Our goal from day one is about fostering a high-performing environment of player development and team alignment…

— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) August 5, 2024

On our podcast over the weekend the topic of the salary floor came up. I nonchalantly asked the panel if anyone knew what the penalty for not meeting said floor was since I had no clue. LT confidently said, “they just pay the excess into a fund that goes to the league office.” which seemed kind of sensible enough and so I left it at that.

The way my brain works has always been funny, even to me. I generally don’t stop and think about something, it’s more like a kitchen with 8 or 9 dishes in various stages of completion. Throughout the day my mind drifted back to LT’s answer, mainly because the more I thought about it the more it felt out of line with Adam Silver’s campaign to even out competitive balance. The penalties for over-spending felt extremely harsh when compared to “and if you don’t spend enough, just send us a check and we’ll throw ourselves a pizza party!”

So today on my lunch break I did my own research and found that the answer provided to me was incorrect. The penalties for not meeting the NBA minimum salary floor are almost as extreme as pushing past the second apron. I don’t post this just to zing LT, that’s a semi-amusing side effect, at best. I post this because it affects a lot of what could happen in the next month or so. SO here it is, at long last, the not asked for at all rules on the NBA Minimum Salary Floor!!!!!

-Beginning in 2024/25, a team whose salary is below the minimum floor at the start of the regular season won’t receive a share of the end-of-season luxury tax payouts. (last season it was just 50%, this is important because small market owners absolutely rely on this windfall to turn a profit)

-A team whose salary is below the minimum floor at the start of the season will have a cap hold added to its salary in order to reach the minimum floor. For instance, a team with a $117,418,000 salary on opening night in 2023/24 would have a $5MM cap hold added to its salary to reach the $122,418,000 floor and would be unable to immediately access that $5MM of cap room. (For Utah that would be a whopping $21, 983, 000+ million dollar cap hold!)

-A team that begins the season below the floor cannot reduce the shortfall amount it will owe at the end of the season by spending on player salaries during the season. For example, a team that starts the season $5MM below the floor would owe no less than $5MM at the end of the season. The shortfall amount that club owes could increase if its team salary dips further than $5MM below the floor by the end of the season.

So not only would Utah owe nearly $22 mil in league payments they would be denied any payments from the luxury tax pool in addition to having a cap hold imposed on them throughout the season making it more difficult to swing a massive trade or sign someone who is waived. That is nothing to sneeze at folks. Especially for a small market team like the Jazz who aren’t selling out the arena, aren’t the benefactors of a mega local cable market and are one of the more fiscally responsible teams out there.

Now it is possible they could take a one-season hit. After all, Ryan Smith’s net worth is 2.2 billion. It’s just hard for me to see a guy who knows how money works simply throw money away or sacrifice his GM’s team building flexibility.

All of this is to say I expect the Jazz to be involved in some kind of deal where they absorb salary for the cost of a couple picks, maybe even a 1st rounder or 2 . The are plenty of (Zach LaVine) contracts out there that a team would be happy (Zach LaVine) to move (Zach) for a draft pick without taking back more than one (LaVine) player (Zach LaVine). Maybe Zach LaVine…? They can send out my man Jordan Clarkson and balance out the roster and sign some decent talent from the Olympics. It’d be great to see Wenyan get back into the NBA or something like that.

Lauri Markkanen Plans to Delay Signing New Deal Until After Wednesday to Avoid 2024-25 Trade Eligibility; per @JakeLFischer

"If Markkanen waits to sign his new deal until Wednesday or later, Markkanen won’t be eligible to be traded during this upcoming 2024-25 season. He… pic.twitter.com/K8qubdf2Uj

— BASKETBALL ON 𝕏 (@BASKETBALLonX) August 5, 2024

Wizards Likely to Trade Jonas Valančiūnas During Seasonhttps://t.co/YEegfRUi4j via @BleacherReport

— LakerTom (@LakerTom) August 4, 2024

The “expectation” reportedly floating around the NBA is that the Washington Wizards will trade Jonas Valančiūnas in December, according to Sean Deveney of Heavy.com, when the veteran center eligible to be moved after signing a three-year, $30 million.

The Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks are all possible suitors, per that report.

“The Knicks, we’ll see how their center spot develops,” a NBA executive told Deveney in July, mentioning the Lakers as one of the interested teams. “The Warriors, if the Lauri Markkanen thing does not work out.”

All three teams would make sense for Valančiūnas.

The Lakers are at their best when utilizing Anthony Davis at the 5, but over the course of an 82-game season, having another reliable center option to start next to Davis at times is one way to reduce the wear and tear on the injury-prone star.

At present, the Lakers have Jaxson Hayes and Christian Wood. Valančiūnas would be a significant upgrade.

Ditto for a Knicks team that lost Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency and doesn’t have many true centers on the roster behind Mitchell Robinson. The team could play small with its second unit, but Hartenstein proved to be a key performer in the playoffs and his loss likely needs to be addressed at some point.

The Warriors may be the worst off among the three teams at present, with just Trayce Jackson-Davis and veteran Kevon Looney currently available at the position. Obviously a Markkanen acquisition would be far more impactful, but Valančiūnas would be a nice consolation prize in December.

Deveney did note that the Lakers “have been most frequently connected with Valančiūnas, but L.A. has also been reluctant to give up either of its tradeable draft picks.”

For the rebuilding Wizards, using their cap space in the present to add potential draft assets and young players in the future was a savvy move.

“It is a really smart [signing] because it got him paid at a time when there were just not that many spots available—it’s musical chairs and if you do not get one of the first slots now with the new rules, you’re screwed,” the executive told Deveney. “There’s not as much flexibility. But this gets you paid, and the team paying you can say, ‘Hey, we’ll get you to a contender when the time comes.'”

Which contender it ends up being remains to be seen.

LAKERS TRADE FOR SIMONS& WILLIAMS

I love idea of trading for Simons rather than Grant. Solves problem of replacing DLO. Simons/Reaves backcourt could be elite.
Expand trade to include DLO, Rui, JHS, Reddish, and '29 and '31 FRPs for Simons and Williams. https://t.co/LY8ZZSkDgf pic.twitter.com/jYmhFkGy33

— LakerTom (@LakerTom) August 4, 2024

Anfernee Simons is the perfect D'Angelo Russell replacement. https://t.co/wZ3VgRxdIN

— LakerTom (@LakerTom) August 4, 2024

The Los Angeles Lakers are in the market for a trade that will significantly improve the roster. Opportunity has come knocking via a rebuilding franchise.

The Los Angeles Lakers have played a dangerous game during the 2024 NBA offseason. While Anthony Davis, Rui Hachimura, and LeBron James are in Paris competing in the Olympics, Los Angeles is back home hoping that its greatest asset will be its patience.

That patience could pay off sooner than expected, as the perfect trade target has presented itself—and, after a silent offseason, a move could be imminent.

The Lakers were linked to a seemingly endless list of big names in free agency, including James Harden, Chris Paul, and Klay Thompson. The more likely outcome was always going to be a trade, however, and the ideal opportunity has finally arrived.

During a recent appearance on The Drive Guys on Sactown Sports 1140, Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian stated that the Portland Trail Blazers are aiming to trade either Jerami Grant or Anfernee Simons before the start of training camp.

“I would be surprised if Jerami [Grant] or Anfernee Simons, if one of the two is not moved. I was told that’s definitely the goal, that one of the two will probably be gone before training camp.”

Fentress continued:

“I predict both of them will be gone by next summer. It just depends on when it happens.”

In other words, there’s a genuinely strong possibility that either Grant or Simons will be traded within the next month—and Simons would be the perfect player for the Lakers to pursue.

Anfernee Simons is the perfect D’Angelo Russell replacement.
Los Angeles is in the process of shopping point guard D’Angelo Russell. It speaks to the franchise’s desire to improve its quality of play in the backcourt, with an eye on finding a more reliable and consistent option from a scoring perspective.

Simons certainly fits the bill as one of the most productive guards in the NBA, with an elite jump shot, three-level scoring ability, and vastly improved playmaking skills.

This past season, Simons set career-best marks with averages of 22.6 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game. He also buried 3.4 three-point field goals per contest, shooting 38.5 percent from beyond the arc and 91.6 percent on his 3.9 free throw attempts per outing.

Simons also buried an elite 42.7 percent of his catch-and-shoot three-point field goals and shot 42.3 percent on three-point field goals when he held the ball for two or fewer seconds.

That combination of elite shooting and improved facilitating fits perfectly within what’s been defined as the type of offense JJ Redick hopes to run. Redick, entering his first season with the Lakers, is hoping to empower multiple playmakers at any given time and encourage the team to shoot more threes.

Throw in the fact that Simons shot 49.0 percent on drives in 2023-24, and a system that enables him to work without the ball, attack the basket, and distribute without necessarily running the offense is a perfect fit.

Untapped Potential

The questions surrounding this trade are simple: Can Simons become anything resembling a consistent defender and why exactly are the Trail Blazers eager to move on? Both of those questions can be answered with two words: Untapped potential.

Simons has yet to show what he’s capable of on defense, but there’s reason to believe the best has yet to come—much as Portland sees its success beyond his purview.

Portland has effectively hit the reset button by investing top-10 draft picks in guards Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe. If the plan is to build around that duo, then moving Simons would be justified by the creation of additional playing time for two franchise cornerstones.

Simons is better than both at the moment, but for a rebuilding Portland side, that only means it would be difficult to justify benching him just as he begins to enter his prime—making a trade a more desirable outcome.

As for Simons’ subpar defense, there’s reason to believe he has unexplored potential on that end of the floor. He’s a bit undersized at 6’3″ and 193 pounds, but he also boasts a 6’9.25″ wingspan that can be put to use in the right defensive system—and Davis and James are the perfect veterans to hold him accountable.

If the Lakers believe they can get buy-in on the defensive end of the floor, then investing in Simons’ All-Star potential would be a brilliant decision.

Team-Friendly Contract

One of the primary reasons to be intrigued by what Simons brings to the table is his contract. While a player such as Trae Young projects to provide better short-term value, he’s also owed $43,031,940 in 2024-25 and would have Los Angeles perpetually on the cusp of the second apron.

Simons, meanwhile, is owed $53,571,428 over the next two seasons combined—making him easier to acquire and perfect for James’ current contract window.

Simons is due $25,892,857 for the 2024-25 season, meaning the Lakers could potentially acquire him by only giving up one of its core pieces. Multiple first-round draft picks would likely be sent out, but being able to keep one of Rui Hachimura or Austin Reaves would be a dream scenario compared to losing both plus draft compensation for a player like Young.

Jerami Grant continues to make the most headlines in Portland and even Los Angeles, but with all of this considered, it’s Simons who represents the best path forward as the Lakers hope to maximize Davis and James’ championship window.

HIGHLIGHTS: LeBron James and #USABMNT cruised to victory over Puerto Rico to clinch the top seed going into the knockout rounds.https://t.co/tip34iq6Oe

— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) August 3, 2024

In defense of D’Angelo Russell, who the Lakers will need heading into this season https://t.co/0LPjsir8B6

— LakerTom (@LakerTom) August 2, 2024

It’s becoming increasingly likely the polarizing D’Angelo Russell will remain a Laker this season despite persisting trade buzz. Here’s why that’s more than fine.

Like in most instances, two things can be true at once. One of the worst-kept secrets around the league is the Lakers’ desire to find an upgrade from D’Angelo Russell. That’s been the case since last summer and even back when they initially drafted him.

Beyond the absence of clear avenues to do so, however, Los Angeles also needs him. Perhaps even more than they are willing to admit.

While the offseason is still technically ongoing, it is now August and it seems more likely than not that Russell has survived another game of musical chairs. And given how the summer has shaken out, that should not be perceived as a failure on the Lakers’ front.

Why the Lakers pursuit of roster upgrades will require patience
That said, the front office’s inability to improve or even alter the roster — especially the back half — is worthy of criticism. Yet, pointing to Russell’s continued presence as chief among their missteps ignores important context.

For example, pick any hypothetical trade target that fans or reporters have discussed these past few weeks. Whether it’s the pair of wings from Brooklyn, Bruce Brown, Kyle Kuzma, Brook Lopez, or the most frequently mentioned Jerami Grant, most of these swaps would have included Russell in some form.

While it’s easy to talk yourself into each of these names as the Lakers still need help on the wing and in the frontcourt, neither are the clear backcourt upgrades the team would need in return. This is due to the shape of the roster and their tradable assets as plugging one hole in a move only unearths another.

A counterargument is the Lakers fill Russell’s shoes in-house or in free agency following a trade. But that’s easier said than done.

Although many fans have clamored for Austin Reaves to be given even more on-ball responsibility — he had a 5.4% increase in usage rate this past season — and take on more point guard duties, there has been enough evidence to suggest there’s a ceiling before seeing diminishing returns.

While Reaves has showcased plenty of on-ball chops, he still thrives most when working as a weakside creator or as someone who can extend advantages created by others. This is likely why Reaves’ true-shooting percentage was 3% higher playing next to Russell this past season, according to PBP stats. He also averaged two fewer turnovers per 100 possessions in those minutes.

Other internal options include a healthy Gabe Vincent soaking up backcourt possessions and Jalen Hood-Schifino potentially getting minutes. Although Vincent is a better defender than Russell, the dropoff offensively is steep enough to have concerns about his viability as a starter.

And in the case of Hood-Schifino, following essentially a redshirt rookie season that featured season-ending back surgery, banking on him being a ready contributor feels iffy at best.

With July now come and gone, if fans were hoping for external options to serve as replacements for Russell that has also proven unlikely.

Trading for a star guard carries its own set of potential combustible consequences and an already slim free-agent class has all but been depleted. There was a window when players like Gary Trent Jr. and Tyus Jones were available and could have helped bridge the gap between the season and an eventual Russell trade, but both have signed elsewhere.

One could always point back to the Lakers’ most recent championship as an example of the team not needing a traditional on-ball guard per se. While that was the case for that team, Danny Green and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope uniquely made that possible with their combination of defense and shooting.

Neither version is walking back through that door.

LeBron James was also several years younger in 2020 and able to take on more of the playmaking workload the team lacked. Counting on James — who is set to turn 40 in December — to do that again is unlikely and unwise despite his continued excellence.

Beyond helping preserve James, there is also the importance of the Lakers having a threshold of players who can dribble, pass and shoot. Attributes that Russell arguably did better than any player outside of James this past season.

Given how much Russell’s shortcomings in the postseason have been magnified, it is easy to overlook how solid of a regular season he had and why replacing his production could prove difficult.

For a Lakers’ team starved for shooting, the 28-year-old set the franchise record in made threes in a season and was instrumental to Los Angeles finally turning a corner on offense.

Between his 3-point stroke and ability to orchestrate the offense in the half court, the Lakers were 7.3 points better and averaged 8.0 more assist points per 100 possessions on offense with Russell on the floor this past year.

While obviously helpful, this was not simply a result of Russell benefiting from James and Anthony Davis’s star power, either.

The team not only visibly missed Russell’s skillset when he was unavailable, going 1-5 in the six games he missed, but they also counted on him to shoulder more weight when James was sidelined. The Lakers ultimately went 6-5 in games James missed, including impressive wins over Boston and Milwaukee where Russell, in particular, shined.

Due to these things, there should be some intrigue to see how Russell looks within JJ Redick’s new system. During his introductory press conference, Redick mentioned the importance of on-and-off ball movement and prioritizing shooting more threes as points of emphasis for the Lakers’ offense this upcoming season. These are aspects that Russell, specifically, could help establish.

Outside leading the team in made threes this past season — 72 more than the next closest player — Russell was also one of the team’s smartest cutters.

One of the biggest reasons Russell has been a clean offensive fit since his return is his ability to read and react to the defense when not involved in a play. He does not stand idly when off the ball, instead, he has acted as one of the team’s better guard screeners and cutters by doing what I call “touch cuts.”

Essentially acting as a pseudo-ghost screen, Russell would touch the backs of off-ball defenders to signal a pick coming, but then would quickly cut into open space. This type of movement will be critical in Redick’s quest to make Davis more of a hub of the Lakers’ offense work where he can operate out of the mid-post and showcase his improved passing.

From a stylistic and skillset perspective, Russell has always checked off most of the boxes the Lakers have sought after to fit alongside James and Davis. That said, it still makes sense why those in the organization and fans alike are ready to move on.

For as talented as Russell is, the combination of his expiring contract, defensive limitations and checkered postseason past spell out why a trade could and should ultimately happen if the Lakers want to win another championship. However, these things also underline a larger inherent issue with the roster.

Russell is a flawed player who, like other flawed players on the roster and across the league, gets exposed in certain situations. Whether it comes in a matchup against a more physical team like the Denver Nuggets or when surrounded by teammates who can not cover up for shortcomings, eventually the player or the environment around them needs to change if different results are expected.

With all faults accounted for, Russell has done nearly everything that could be realistically asked of him during his latest stint in Los Angeles.

He’s been a useful innings eater for a team that is still in dire need of them. He’s been one of the few players who has proven able to shoot while wearing a Lakers jersey. And he has signed not only a team-friendly contract, but opted back into it with the knowledge that he’d be trade fodder.

You can ultimately want him gone, but it’s not his fault a move has not transpired yet.

So the team and Russell will continue to tango into the night. They both know the song is about to end but will continue to hit their practiced marks at the slightest chance of a different ending.

Although it is not the player the Lakers dreamt of locking hands with heading into the season, they should do so with the understanding they can do far worse for a dance partner.

Black 🐐🖤 https://t.co/OquZoZMTSl

— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 2, 2024

Kobe and Gianna Bryant Day • 8/2/24 🖤

The official statue 💜💛 pic.twitter.com/cUwC2Gq4qS

— The Laker Files (@LakerFiles) August 2, 2024