After signing Andre Drummond off of the buyout market, the Los Angeles Lakers have 14 full-time NBA players on their roster, leaving a 15th and final spot for general manager Rob Pelinka to utilize as he looks to bolster this roster in midseason free agency.
Any players the Lakers add just have to be waived by April 9 to be eligible to play in the playoffs with their new team. And according to Bobby Marks of ESPN, they can add a veteran’s minimum player at any time they choose, as they have enough room under the hard cap already:
The contract for Andre Drummond in Los Angeles is the amount- $794,536- that he gave back in his buyout with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) March 28, 2021
The Lakers will have a $554,988 cap hit.
The Lakers are $954,349 below the hard cap and have enough room to sign a 15th player.
As a reminder, here is where the Lakers’ roster stands currently:
- LeBron James
- Anthony Davis
- Montrezl Harrell
- Kyle Kuzma
- Dennis Schröder
- Marc Gasol
- Andre Drummond
- Talen Horton-Tucker
- Markieff Morris
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
- Wesley Matthews
- Alfonzo McKinnie
- Jared Dudley
- Alex Caruso
- Open spot
They also currently have both of their two-way contract spots filled with Kostas Antetokounmpo and Devontae Cacok.
Who will be available to add? Some of that will become clear over the days and weeks to come, but given that the Drummond signing gives the Lakers three centers (and four if one includes Davis), expect them to look for another wing to reinforce their depth at that position behind James and Kuzma.
Avery Bradley — who was recently dumped to Houston in the Victor Oladipo trade — looms as an interesting name after serving as the Lakers’ pre-bubble starting guard last season, and Otto Porter Jr. will surely draw some interest if he asks the Orlando Magic to let him go.
Beyond those two, there will also likely be some surprise names to get bought out. Stay tuned to this page and the stories below for the latest on who the Lakers might add as the season continues.
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