How does L.A. fix what still ails it? This deal removes the largest expiring contract the Lakers could use in any future trade. Anything they do now would have to rely on aggregating multiple contracts that go beyond this season and, most likely, would carry negative value to receiving teams: Gabe Vincent, Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt. Those three and Jalen Hood-Schifino’s expiring $3.9 million deal can combine to make $43.6 million in outbound salary and could take back roughly the same amount while keeping L.A. under the collective bargaining agreement’s second apron (remember, the Lakers would have to backfill empty roster spots in a four-for-one or three-for-one trade). That amount is enough to match the salaries of most of the star players they’d be considering. Zach LaVine, for instance, makes $43 million; Anfernee Simons makes $25.9 million; LaMelo Ball (sure, let’s go there) makes $35.1 million; and De’Aaron Fox (what the heck, let’s go there, too) makes $34.5 million. -via New York Times / December 30, 2024