From freeing salary cap space to hiring a new coach, it seems that the Los Angeles Lakers is indeed preparing to add Lebron James and Paul George to their roster.
When the Lakers traded Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance, Jr. to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Isaiah Thomas earlier in February, it was a move that many interpreted as a way for the team to free up salary cap space for two elite free agents. Perhaps not coincidentally, James and George are up for free agency in the summer.
Trading Clarkson and Nance to the Cavaliers may be a strong indication that the Lakers are indeed serious about acquiring James and George once they become free agents. However, one issue that the Los Angeles team may be facing is the salary cap, which may become problematic if the team wanted two elite free agents while still being able to keep Julius Randle.
Randle is set to become a restricted free agent in the summer, with a cap hold of $12.4 million. If the Dallas Mavericks prove rumors right and decide to pursue Randle, this may make things complicated for the Lakers. After all, the Mavericks are rumored to be prepared to offer Randle about $18 million if he signs with the team.
Thus, unless James and George are willing to take less than their maximum salaries ($35.4 million and $30.3 million respectively), the Lakers will be pressed hard against the ceiling of the NBA's salary cap. Even when the team traded Clarkson and Nance, there was still not much room in the Lakers' salary cap for James and George.
However, one solution may be to trade out Luol Deng, who still has $36.81 million left in his contract. This will allow the team to pursue James and George while still being able to keep Randle on the roster. Meanwhile, if the Lakers acquire only one of the two elite players, particularly George, they will have $18 million for Randle as well as enough cap room for players like the San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard.
It has also been suggested that the Lakers consider pursuing DeMarcus Cousins in case the team is unable to acquire James.
However, there is at least one other thing that the Lakers can do to get James to sign with them. There are rumors that the former Memphis Grizzlies coach David Fizdale is eyeing a coaching position with the Lakers. Fizdale reportedly has close ties with James, and it is possible that he can help bring the star player to Los Angeles in the summer.
