The first domino in the Los Angeles Lakers’ offseason strategy has just fallen as they’ve declined their $16.5 million team option for Malik Beasley and waived Mo Bamba and his $11.3 million non-guaranteed contract.
Giving up $27.8 million in player contracts without getting anything in return would normally be malpractice but in this case it’s a calculated move to open up $16.9 million in cap exceptions to sign free agents we could not access.
While using the exceptions will hard cap Lakers at $172.3 million, it also allows them to use the $12.4 million NT MLE (non-taxpayer MLE) and the $4.5 million BAE (Bi-Annual Exception) to sign two or more free agents.
Those two exceptions gives the Lakers access to free agents over-the-cap teams like them never get. In this case, the Lakers goal is to use their $12.4 million NT MLE to sign coveted free agent Brook Lopez or Bruce Brown.
In a perfect world, the Los Angeles Lakers could end up signing Bruce Brown to be their starting small forward with the $12.4 million NT MLE and Mason Plumlee to be their backup center with the $4.5 million BAE.
It does not look good for the Milwaukee Bucks or Denver Nuggets to re-sign Brook Lopez or Bruce Brown. The Bucks will likely prioritize re-signing Middleton and won’t be able to match $20 million per year offer for Lopez. The Nuggets are in worse shape as they only have non-Bird rights so the best they can offer Bruce Brown is 20% raise in the form of $7.8 million per year contract, almost $5 million per year less than what Lakers can offer.
While it’s possible Brook Lopez and Bruce Brown will get offers greater than the $12.4 million NT MLE the Lakers can offer, it’s also possible they won’t and Los Angeles will be able to sign one of them with their NT MLE. Most pundits think Lopez is more likely than Brown to get offers greater than $12.4 million. The Rockets are rumored to be willing to offer the 35-year old Brook Lopez a multi-year contract starting at $20 million per year.
The other thing to consider is both Brook Lopez and Bruce Brown have recently won NBA championships and may not be satisfied to take more money from a team that doesn’t have a chance to be a legitimate contender. With Brown, there’s also the carrot of a starting job to offer. While Bruce is only 6′ 4″, he has a 6′ 9″ wingspan and has spent most of this time playing small forward and not shooting guard. He could start at the two or three.
Reports say the Lakers are “increasingly confident” they can sign Bruce Brown with their $12.4 million NT MLE although it’s been reported that Brown will meet with the Nuggets front office at the start of free agency. Who knows whether that means Brown is still considering taking $7.8 million per year to return to Denver or he’s just giving proper respect to the front office and team that gave him the opportunity to win a gold ring.
At any rate, the Los Angeles Lakers are doing exactly what they told you they were going to do. They’re bringing back their conference finals team and looking to upgrade with a free agent like Brook Lopez or Bruce Brown.
Here’s a breakdown of projected salaries for hard capped Lakers
https://twitter.com/LakerTom/status/1674575839428775937
My money is on Bruce Brown. Bucks have bird rights and there is indication that they don’t want him back. Per Marc Stein.
“In related news, league sources say that Milwaukee is indeed in a promising position when it comes to re-signing both Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez,” Stein wrote. “My sense is that a new deal for Middleton is all but assured at this point, while word is Lopez—despite Houston’s well-chronicled interest and the presumed threat to a Rockets bid would carry—is likewise leaning toward a Bucks return.” There are several articles saying the same thing, that Brook is leaning towards returning.
I dunno LT, looks like same ol same ol? We shall see I guess. How bout German! Wow!
You have to believe the Lakers had a good idea of whom they could sign with the MLE and BAE before they let Beasley and Bamba go. If they don’t land Brook Lopez or Bruce Brown, it will be disappointing. They could even end up using the NT MLE on Beasley and the BAE on Bamba.
I would love to have Lopez but I don’t see it happening. It is like a dream to me. But please God let this happen. If that happens I will be driving around Atlanta with my horns blaring as if we had just won a championship.
I have been chirping about our need for size and 3-point shooting since our season ended, and Lopez checks both. What hurts us more in the Denver series was a lack of effective big men outside of AD. If the Lakers can also add Bruce Brown that would be a huge upgrade. Here is hoping that we get both.
Time for love of Darvin Ham and Disneyland to motivate Brook to consider coming home to LA for the NT MLE.
I’d like to see us go after Plumlee over Lopez and then hopefully have money for Bruce Brown as well.I can roll with that roster. Not sure if Plumlee will come cheap cuz he had a very good showing during his time with the Clipps, but I’d much rather him at a fraction of what it’ll take to get Lopez. Better to see a larger chunk of change going to Brown and end up with 2 dudes who seem to fit what D.Ham likes to do. We’re still inadequate in the backcourt but there’s not a whole lot out there who would be realistic options for us.