wco81 wrote:I think they can get rid of Schroder and Harrell's salaries. Harrell has a player option.
Schroeder is UFA.
So potentially $25-26 million in salaries off the books.
Drummon, Morris, Caruso, Matthews, Dudley and McElmore are also UFAs. So combined, that's another $10-11 million in salaries which would come off their books.
Of course, if they re-sign some of them or replace them, those salaries would go back.
THT is an RFA. He might be able to get more than a minimum deal, as he gets a lot of coverage, even if he hasn't produced high efficiency in his shooting, though he can create shots for himself.
Gasol, who's fallen out of favor, is on the books for $2.7 million next year but his salary could be used for a trade.
Let's see how active they are in the trade market or trying to sign some ring chasers in the FA market.
I wouldn't pronounce them out of the contention window like Stephen A Smith just did.
The projected cap for next year is about $112M. Even if the Lakers renounce every FA, dump Gasol's salary, and Harrell declines his $9.7M option (don't count on it) they still have 4 guaranteed salaries totaling $102.5M. Add in Deng's $5M dead money, 6 roster charges @ about $1.6M each, and they're already over the cap with only 5 players (includes their draft pick) on the roster. They are capped out without a doubt.
That's not to say they're out of contention. They still have two great players to build around (just like the Warriors.)