Lakers Podcast: Salary Cap Situation With No. 4 Pick In 2019 NBA Draft, Options To Build Roster

Trevor Lane
2 Min Read
Nathaniel S. Butler-NBAE via Getty Images

The Los Angeles Lakers were fortunate to move up in the 2019 NBA Draft, jumping from the No. 11 pick all the way up to No. 4. While this figures to be a major asset for the Lakers moving forward, there is a cost that comes with having a higher pick: less cap space.

On this episode of the Lakers Nation Podcast, host Trevor Lane is joined by Keith Smith of Yahoo to break down the team’s cap situation with the No. 4 pick, which carries a higher guaranteed salary than the No. 11. What will that mean for their pursuit of All-Stars on the free agent market this summer?

We break down all of the options that they will have moving forward, including a scenario that would see the Lakers land a top-tier player like Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard, or Jimmy Butler. Doing so would burn up most if not all of their cap space, so how could general manager Rob Pelinka and the rest of the Lakers front office fill in the rest of the roster? There is a way but it’s going to require some spot-on decision making.

Additionally, with the Lakers still rumored to be one of the teams that will attempt to trade for Anthony Davis this summer, can they make such a trade and still be a player on the free agent market? Could the Lakers find themselves with a big three of LeBron James, Davis, and perhaps Irving?

There are plenty of options available to Los Angeles but working around the cap could be a challenge. We chart out all the possible courses for the Lakers as they prepare to embark upon an incredibly important summer.

Trevor Lane is a longtime NBA and Los Angeles Lakers fan who had the good fortune to grow up during the glory days of the Showtime Lakers, when Magic Johnson, Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, and the rest ruled the Great Western Forum. He has written about basketball, soccer, fantasy sports, MMA, and even pro wrestling over the course of his career, but the spectacle that is the Lakers is his true passion. He made the leap into podcasting for Lakers Nation and provides voice-over analysis for our YouTube channel. With a who's who of stars gracing the Lakers lineup over the years, including Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, Pau Gasol, and many others, the Lakers always provide plenty to talk about. When he isn't writing or recording, Trevor can be found spending time with his wife and daughter or on the sidelines for one of the youth teams he coaches. Outside of the Lakers, Trevor is a supporter of the LA Galaxy, US Soccer, Dallas Cowboys, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Contact: trevor@mediumlargela.com
Exit mobile version