It’s not quite that simple—they do have options on other players.
For instance, management holds a non-guaranteed contract on Kendall Marshall, and qualifying offers on Kent Bazemore and rookie Ryan Kelly.
Finally, Nick Young is firmly in control of his own destiny with a player’s option. Per Mark Medina of The Los Angeles Daily News, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak recently said about the swaggy shooting guard. “My guess is he’s going to opt out.”
Complicating matters is Young’s long layoff with a fractured knee and a limited number of games left for him to showcase for prospective buyers.
The Lakers are in a tricky situation, having cleared tons of cap room by signing so many players to short-term contracts this season. The Catch-22 is that they have to renounce the rights of said players in order to free up the funds to go after other, potentially more enticing free agents over the summer.
They can try and coax their own free agents back once they’ve made whatever larger moves they have in mind. There’s no guarantee however. Some of the cut-rate wild cards that have performed well for them, even during a terrible season, may find greener pastures elsewhere.
So who stays and who goes? Let the howls of protest begin—or not?
Lakers salary data from Sham Sports.
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Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
