On Saturday, the Los Angeles Lakers were officially eliminated from the playoffs.
While they still have 10 games remaining until the end of the regular season, the focus now shifts to the offseason, where the Lakers will be looking to upgrade their roster through the draft and free agency.
They have the cap space and draft pick to do so, but there is no guarantee that they'll acquire a second star to pair with LeBron James.
From who will be free agents to how much money they'll have to spend in free agency, here's what the Lakers have to work with this summer...
Free Agents
Rajon Rondo, PG, UFA
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, UFA
Lance Stephenson, SG, UFA
Reggie Bullock, SG, UFA
Mike Muscala, PF, UFA
JaVale McGee, C, UFA
Tyson Chandler, C, UFA
UFA = Unrestricted Free Agent, RFA = Restricted Free Agent
Player/Team Options
None
Under Contract
Brandon Ingram, SF — under team control through 2019-20
Lonzo Ball, PG — under team control through 2020-21
Isaac Bonga, PG — under team control through 2020-21
Josh Hart, SG — under team control through 2020-21
Kyle Kuzma, PF — under team control through 2020-21
LeBron James, F — under team control through 2021-22
Moritz Wagner, C — under team control through 2021-22
Draft Picks
The Lakers have their first round pick in the upcoming draft. As of March 22, Tankathon gives them a 13.9 percent chance of getting a top-four pick and a 3.0 percent chance of getting the No. 1 pick.
The Lakers do not have a second round pick.
MORE: What future draft picks does each team have?
Here's who the Lakers have selected with their first round pick in the last five drafts:
- 2018: Moritz Wagner (No. 25)
- 2017: Lonzo Ball (No. 2)
- 2016: Brandon Ingram (No. 2)
- 2015: D'Angelo Russell (No. 2)
- 2014: Julius Randle (No. 7)
Salary
The Lakers created nearly $40 million in salary cap space for the upcoming offseason when they agreed to a buyout with Luol Deng in September, giving them the room needed to offer a maximum contract to a free agent.
Some of the max-level players who will likely be free agents this summer: Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Jimmy Butler, Kemba Walker and DeMarcus Cousins.
The Lakers will also have the space to trade for another max-level player. While they don't have many players under contract, they have some young talent in Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma and Lonzo Ball that could draw some interest from teams.
The Lakers tried to acquire Anthony Davis after he requested a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans earlier this season, but the two sides couldn't come to an agreement before the trade deadline. The Lakers are expected to face even tougher competition in the Davis sweepstakes in the offseason now that the Boston Celtics can get involved.
Biggest offseason storylines
What do the Lakers do with Luke Walton?
Walton still has two more years on the contract he signed in 2016, but rumours have been circulating that this could be his last season with the Lakers. According to Marc Stein of The New York Times, "the prevailing assumption in league coaching circles remains that Walton will almost certainly be dismissed after the season." If the Lakers do move on from him, who will be their head coach moving forward?
Getting healthy
Both Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram were shut down for the remainder of this season with injuries. For Ball, he suffered a Grade 3 ankle sprain in a loss to the Houston Rockets on Jan. 19. For Ingram, he recently underwent thoracic outlet decompression surgery on his right arm after the team discovered a blood clot in his shoulder. It was an up-and-down season for both of them, but Ball and Ingram were playing some of the best basketball of their careers prior to their injuries.
Do they keep their pick?
Unlikely as it is that they get one of the top picks in the 2019 NBA Draft, missing the playoffs guarantees the Lakers will at least be in the lottery. It'll be interesting to see if they keep whatever pick they end up getting to add another young prospect to their roster or use it to improve the package they can offer teams as they pursue a second star. We'll have a better idea on what they're likely to do on May 14, when the 2019 NBA Draft Lottery takes place.
