As the NBA threatens to get upended around them by Thursday\u2019s trade deadline, the Lakers have been quiet thus far.<\/p>\n
Rumors about a potential Rui Hachimura\/De\u2019Andre Hunter swap quickly petered out<\/a> when the Cleveland Cavaliers sent Hunter to the Sacramento Kings instead<\/a>. Beyond that, it\u2019s mostly been the usual rumbles about the Lakers wanting New Orleans Pelicans forward Herb Jones<\/a> and the Pelicans politely declining<\/a>.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n The Lakers did get one piece of notable news Tuesday: LeBron James \u201cis still expected to finish out the season\u201d in L.A., according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN<\/a>. Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul said as much<\/a> on his podcast in December, but league sources re-emphasized to McMenamin that \u201cJames will not be joining a new team before this season is over.\u201d<\/p>\n If that\u2019s true, that limits the Lakers\u2019 options at the trade deadline.<\/p>\n Can the Lakers go big-game hunting?<\/p>\n The Lakers are currently less than $1 million below<\/a> the $195.9 million first apron. They\u2019re hard-capped at that threshold since they spent their non-taxpayer mid-level exception on Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia this past offseason. That means they can\u2019t go over $195.9 million in total salary until the new league year begins on June 30.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n The Lakers do have more than $44 million in expiring contracts between Rui Hachimura ($18.3 million), Gabe Vincent ($11.5 million), Maxi Kleber ($11.0 million) and Jaxson Hayes ($3.4 million). But since they\u2019re so close to the first apron, they can\u2019t take back much more salary than they send out in a trade.<\/p>\n James\u2019 $52.6 million contract would be ideal to dangle from a salary-matching perspective. However, he has a full no-trade clause, which means he can scuttle any deal involving him.<\/p>\n If James won\u2019t sign off on a trade, the Lakers could instead offer Jarred Vanderbilt, who\u2019s owed $11.6 million this year and $12.4 million in 2026-27. He also has a $13.3 million player option in 2027-28, which likely makes him less desirable to potential trade partners.<\/p>\n Aside from Vanderbilt, though, the Lakers can offer significant salary relief in the form of Hachimura, Vincent and Kleber. Those three plus Vanderbilt get them above $50 million, but they\u2019d also need to include Hayes to get into the $55 million range.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Teams don\u2019t have enough open roster spots to swing a five-for-one deal during the season, though. The Lakers would need to recruit at least one other team to help push any deal for a superstar over the edge.<\/p>\n LeBron\u2019s uncertain future<\/p>\n The Lakers could have upwards of $50 million in cap space<\/a> this offseason, but it would require them to part ways with all of their free agents, including LeBron. They figure to be fiercely protective of that financial flexibility at the trade deadline unless it\u2019s for a clear long-term upgrade.<\/p>\n The uncertainty surrounding LeBron\u2019s future is the real impediment, though.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Even if this isn\u2019t James\u2019 final season in the NBA, it very well could be his final season in L.A. The Lakers have a unique opportunity<\/a> to take advantage of Austin Reaves\u2019 below-market salary-cap hold this offseason. If\/when they re-sign Reaves, that window closes.<\/p>\n The Lakers are now feeling the inherent tension that every LeBron James team feels at some point. They have to weigh the risks of making a win-now push versus preserving their assets for their post-LeBron future. Luka Don\u010di\u0107\u2019s arrival in L.A. last year only further complicated that.<\/p>\n LeBron, who\u2019s in his age-41 season, doesn\u2019t have much time left in the NBA. Don\u010di\u0107, who turns 27 at the end of February, could be the Lakers\u2019 franchise cornerstone for the next decade. LeBron might feel as though the Lakers owe it to him to make one last push for a championship, but the Lakers have to be mindful of how best to build around Don\u010di\u0107 moving forward.<\/p>\n On that front, longtime NBA insider Marc Stein reported Wednesday<\/a> that the Lakers would be \u201ca very viable threat<\/a>\u201d to land Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo if he doesn\u2019t get moved by the trade deadline.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is little choice for the Lakers, heading into Thursday\u2019s deadline, except to stay patient and avoid deals that involve any long-term salary to maintain maximum flexibility for the spring,\u201d Stein wrote. \u201cThe hope for the purple-and-gold would then be to use their considerable projected salary cap space to be able to take in a contract like Antetokounmpo\u2019s via trade\u2014or another expensive star if one shakes loose post-playoffs.\u201d<\/p>\n That approach may frustrate LeBron in what could be his final NBA season, but it\u2019s the wise route to take. Besides, the only one who\u2019s forcing LeBron to stay in L.A. is LeBron.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Unless otherwise noted, all stats via\u00a0NBA.com<\/a>, PBPStats<\/a>, Cleaning the Glass<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Basketball Reference<\/a>. All salary information via Spotrac<\/a> and salary-cap information via RealGM<\/a>.<\/p>\n