This is what I would try to do during the offseason if I was Rob Pelinka, first of all, I wouldn’t use cap space to sign any free agent as I consider important to keep Hachimura, LeBron, Reaves and Kennard as part of the core team, I would rather prioritize depth on the roster rather than overpaying RFA or doing megatrades, so the movements would be:
TRADE AT THE DRAFT NIGHT VANDO, KNECHT AND NO #25 FOR CAM JOHNSON: as Cam hadn’t the best season I think Denver would try to get rid of his contract in order to have money for PW, by doing this trade Denver is saving around 6 million and could save even more by pairing the draft pick with Vando to a third team, while trying to rehab DK, while Lakers get a decent rotation forward for players that are not part of the rotation, and also gets cap flexibility for the next season. (Note: this trade would be possible with the lakers over the cap as long as they don’t surpass 1st apron, after this, LA is hardcapped for the remaining of the season)
TRADE 2032 2nd ROUND + CASH FOR AS HIGH AS POSSIBLE SECOND ROUND TO GET A SG/SF PROSPECT: Same strategy than the last year with Thiero, great way to get cheap and young talent, idk about the draft so I won’t say who they could draft, or how high the could get.
RESIGN LBJ TO A ONE YEAR DEAL FOR 25M (or so): LeBron is worth even more than that but I think no contender team would be able to match this offer and LeBron would rather stay in LA so I think this is realistic. (Signed though his cap hold)
RESIGN AR TO A 5-YEAR 175-200 M DEAL: AR is worth every penny of this deal and even more, he fits perfectly with Luka timeline, he’s shown he can be either the first, second and third option, 35M a year its not too much in current NBA so this deal could age very well, as there aren’t many teams with cap space and I think AR is comfortable in LA, I think he could accept an offer like this which would give the Lakers more flexibility to improve the teams throughout the coming years. (Signed through his cap hold)
RESIGN RUI HACHIMURA TO A 3-YEAR 50M DEAL: Rui was very good for LA this offseason from deep and Lakers NEED him to stay, I think his market would be around the full MLE and Rui would prioritize stability, so this offer seems fair to me. (Signed though his cap hold).
RESIGN LUKE KENNARD TO A 2-YEAR 12M DEAL: Most people would think LK is worth more than that but I wouldn’t pay more than this for him as he’s a defensive liability and hasn’t shown the ability to shot a higher volume consistently. (Signed through his cap hold).
RESIGN JAXSON HAYES TO A 3 YEAR 12.6M DEAL: Great backup center, he’ll also play with Luka for Slovenia and I don’t think any team would go crazy for him, I would pay him at most 5M a year, but I think this would be enough to keep him a Laker.
BEG MARCUS SMART TO RESIGN A 1+1 WITH PO WITH NON-BIRD RIGHTS: Of course MS would reject his player option after this season and will have better offers than this as his season was stunning, the most the Lakers can offer with his rights is a 20% rise on his last year salary, so I would try to convince him to accept that + a player option on the second year, if he rejects this offer I would consider using the MLE to pay him, but this would destroy LA possibility to sign a good center at free agency.
RESIGN AYTON IF HE REJECTS HIS PO: Even though Dominayton season wasn’t as good as expected for the media (to be a former all star and 1st overall pick) he is a great value at his current contract, I think he might reject his PO in order to get a better deal, I would offer him 2 Year 18M with a PO at the second year, I wouldn’t offer him more than the his non-bird rights which is about 9.8M.
SIGN MITCHELL ROBINSON FOR 3-YEAR 45M USING MLE: MR is a rebounding rim roller perfect for Luka and Reaves, he is injury prone and has not enough cardio to be a starter, but with Ayton and Hayes on the roster Lakers can live with this. I think 15M is an offer that NY can’t match because their team will be too expensive next season, in case MR resigns with NY or sign elsewhere Lakers could try to get Robert Williams or Kristaps Porzingis or any other center of this free agency (of course with a deal according to player’s value).
After all this Lakers would be like 8 million under the first apron and would have a free spot to sign either a buyout player or a two-way player in the half of the season, they would also have cap flexibility for doing trades or offer more money to their free agents.
Rotation: GUARDS: Luka, Reaves, Smart, Kennard, Bronny, draft prospect. FORWARDS: Lebron, Hachimura, Cam Johnson, LaRavia, Thiero. CENTERS: Robinson, Ayton, Hayes.
Is this team better than OKC or San Antonio? No, but it wouldn’t be anyways and is a pretty solid team in the west which should not struggle to get in the top 6 seed, deeper than this season without sacrificing important assets and preserving cap flexibility for next season which seems more promising. And who knows, maybe Luka make another historic run and carry us to the finals.