Plenty of people in the national media have criticized the Los Angeles Lakers’ offseason moves, particularly their trade for center Walker Kessler that cost them two future first-round draft picks and two pick swaps. In the minds of such pundits, the team got rid of all of its flexibility to make future trades by giving up almost all of its tradable draft capital.
The Lakers currently have three second-round draft picks and one pick swap. However, they could be on track to have the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception next summer, which could net them a high-level bench player or even a starting-level player.
The reason Los Angeles could have that mid-level exception is because both Austin Reaves and Sandro Mamukelashvili accepted tweaks to their new contracts to help the team stay below the required threshold.
Reaves initially agreed to a four-year, $185 million deal in late June, but his actual deal, which he signed on Sunday, is actually for $180 million. As Lakers beat reporters Jovan Buha and Dave McMenamin pointed out, the slightly lower number will help with the squad’s financial flexibility.
Mamukelashvili, a big man who can play the 4 and 5 positions, signed for $52 million over four years. He will make $13 million this coming season, but his salary will dip a bit to $12.35 million the following season.
The non-taxpayer mid-level exception was worth roughly $15 million this year, and its value should be a little higher in 2027. The Lakers used it on Quentin Grimes, a two-way 6-foot-5 wing who can be a solid complementary scoring option, this summer.
They could either sign a player using that exception or trade for a player whose contract doesn’t exceed the dollar amount it will be worth.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Austin Reaves, Sandro Mamukelashvili are helping Lakers’ cap situation
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire | USA TODAY Network
