Four of the Lakers‘ low-cost signings within the last year have been crucial in helping bring the team to within one win of a championship, writes Anthony Slater of The Athletic.
As Slater details, the combined 2019/20 cap hits for Alex Caruso ($2.75MM), Rajon Rondo ($2.56MM), Markieff Morris ($1.75MM), and Dwight Howard ($1.62MM) total just $8.69MM, but those four players have become extremely important parts of the Lakers’ rotation, especially in the postseason.
Rondo’s return from a broken thumb has helped lessen the need for the Lakers to experiment with backups like Dion Waiters and J.R. Smith, while Morris’ ability to play center in small-ball lineups has come in handy multiple times in the playoffs, particularly against Houston. Howard had his best moments against Denver as a Nikola Jokic irritant, according to Slater, who adds that Caruso has been a steady, reliable contributor through the postseason.
Caruso is under contract for $2.75MM next season as well, but the other three vets will have the opportunity to reach free agency — their strong playoff showings could put them in line for raises.
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hasn’t always been a fan favorite in Los Angeles during the last three seasons, but he’s coming up big for the team in the postseason, writes Jordan Greer of Sporting News. Caldwell-Pope, who has knocked down 38.5% of his three-pointers in the playoffs, made some big shots down the stretch in Game 4 to help seal the Lakers’ win. He has a $8.49MM player option for 2020/21.
- A championship would be vindication for Lakers head of basketball operations Rob Pelinka, who took the reins following Magic Johnson‘s abrupt resignation last spring, then negotiated a trade for Anthony Davis, came up short in his pursuit of Kawhi Leonard, and had to quickly fill out the roster around his stars six days into free agency. Sam Amick of The Athletic has the story on Pelinka’s “let-it-all-out moment” near the end of Game 4.
- The role of franchise savior never quite fit Anthony Davis in New Orleans, according to Justin Verrier of The Ringer, who writes that the former No. 1 overall pick has been at his best and is reaching his full potential alongside another superstar in LeBron James.
It only took having LeBron as a teammate for his full potential to show….
That is why its so hard to make a championship team because players come and go. Pope will probably turn it down and become a free agent. The bench will be much weaker next season and without draft picks this is 1 and out.
Weren’t you the same guy that said lakers wouldn’t win this year? A hahahahaha
I thought Miami would take this series but the Lakers have looked pretty awesome. The veterans have stepped up and LeBron has seen to it that the team is gelling and on the same page. Tip of the cap to the Lakers and their fans.
The heat losing their top scorer was to big of a hill to climb. Lakers are winning because their bench has stepped up. Heat need to run a lot more screens because once Butler is stop the offense tumbles.
Nope wrong person but you feel the Lakers are a Dynasty but they are not.
Especially with LeBron turning 36 in a few months.
Whatever Rocket boy
You said that too Mindless.
@curtis yeah because I thought clippers wouldn’t choke they were the best team on paper in the west. Once they went down lakers were the best of the rest.
I’m not sure about that. Some of these guys have made plenty of money and could return for a run back at a repeat. Pope might take that eight million dollars and go for it.
I look forward to the matchups my Warriors and these Lakers. Going to be Battle Royale next year with all these tough teams in the west and everybody jockeying for players and getting better. Going to be fun.
Dallas and Denver looks to be very solid and on the upside. There will be no true #1 team in the west next year.
The road always goes thru the champs.. lakers will be even better next year.. mark it
I agree, Gary. Gonna be fun. I actually look forward for to the Warriors being back. The West should be really fun to watch. Got your normal dominant teams but some up and coming teams as well.
As far as the Lakers bench. I believe most will be back for a chance to repeat plus they got Bradley coming back who is a really solid player
Doubt Pope will opt out.. he’s a klutch guy and this has really been his only chance of being on a winning team.. still don’t know what the cap will be at and how much money teams will have..
You have a bad case of Lakers derangment. They will find another shooter and as long as AD stays they will be back. And they have their 1st round pick so you have no clue what your talking about.
Laker have 1 pick #28. No second round pick. You will need to get a project player at #28.
Lakers have a history of striking gold late in first round and 2nd round picks.. kuzma, hart, talen Horton tucker, jordan clarkson.. not worried about them finding a player late
Arc89 the only team that is finished is the gsw as soon as kd and klay went down with career ending injuries. Steph also has ankles made of tissue paper and won’t age well defensively….they have no bench and are stuck with draymond horrible contract. Adding the 2nd overall in a weak draft does little but go ahead and pump yourself up.
I think the 3 players that will be gone off this lakers team next year, Danny green, mcgee and kuzma
kuzma stays because he has another year left. Caruso is gone because he can easily find a deal with multiple years at a much higher pay.
Dude, just stop. You’re not having a good showing here today. I’m not even going to get into the draft pick mess you’re talking about above, but Caruso is not going to have an easy time finding a multi-year deal because he’s signed for next season already. It’s in the article.
Lakers haters don’t read good
Kuzma is gone.. Caruso isn’t going anywhere. Danny green 15 mil, kuzma 3.5 mill, mcgee 4.2 mill.. 22.7 million between those 3.. can be used in a trade.. also, Avery Bradley will be back and cousins will resign.
LOL the Lakers have cap room even with Lebron and AD getting max deals. And no other long term commitments. Your back must hurt from that reaching.
Lakers will add another star this summer. Have the assets and cap space to swing a trade for 3rd star. Cp3, oladipo, holiday, hield, beal plenty of options at wing. Coupled with the return of cousins and Bradley lakers will be much better than this year for sure.
Ridiculous imindless or whoever, dreaming about a third star. Lakers are lucky they have Caruso signed. The players you don’t like, nobody else does either. They have little to offer.
Any players added will have flaws that Vogel & LJ will find a role for. Howard will probably have to be replaced. Mcgee and Bradley are good for getting through the year, then they will be back, then LJ has to decide whether to keep at it there.
I mean, Lakers should be dangerous in the playoffs again even if they falter in the RS, then 21/22 LJ has an option. CLE or MIA are quite possible.
AD, Rondo, Pope, Bradley, McGee all have player options. Only Rondo May get a better offer. The others are all staying another yr at least. Lakers are over the cap. Only have ME (9.2 mill) to sign FA. Or they can trade Kuzma and Green expiring contract for a player. I always liked Kuzma. But he did not impress me in playoffs. Could be the offense, maybe. Not big on him. He’s not star material. Still he and players picks could get an Oladipo. His consistent scoring is a big plus. An upgrade for team. I think they have at least another yr in them. But this team will not win next yr. They have to improve some. West will be better next yr, East too. And Warriors will be favored. Denver, GS, Clippers all are for real. Even Portland will be tough. Clippers blew a gd chance this yr. Cause now their window looks smaller now.
Warriors will be favored.. stop it..How will warriors be favored? They lost all of there bench and glue guys.. you know Iguodala and Livingston.. curry doesn’t play d and is one year older, klay is coming off acl and green well he’s not a superstar..all one year older.. Wiggins gonna take you to the promised land? don’t have a center.. #2 pick in weak draft.. in salary cap hell. they are gonna ride off into the sunset. Who on that team plays lock down defense? Thompson does but again he’s coming off an acl.
It usually takes two years for a roster upheaval to jell, if ever, if the goal is best of 30. It was just too early for the Clippers.
Lakers had 9 new players this year.. clippers 5.. next excuse.. maybe the clippers didn’t have enough winning players.. kawhi is the only one that has won. It makes a difference
Let’s be honest: nobody knows how good the Warriors will be next year, but no way they should be favored. That is asking a lot to come back from their injuries, departing players, everybody a year older, and look like they used to. Will the chemistry still be there? Sure, they could be #1 but also more likely 4th- 8th place in the West. How they will do is very uncertain. I’m not a fan of Wiggins, especially at the high salary he has and there’s plenty of competition in the West. The off-season is very entertaining and the next season very unpredictable. So many teams with 2 superstars- Lakers, Clippers, Denver, Dallas, Golden State, too. Lots of worthy opponents. Being unpredictable is what makes sports so interesting.