HoopsHypes Michael Scotto and Yossi Gozlan discuss what comes next Lebron James and Anthony Davis. Plus, the future of Russell Westbrook, Malik Monk and more in the latest installment of the HoopsHype podcast.
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1:00 Russell Westbrook’s future
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Scotto: During Russell Westbrooks Media availability at the end of the season, he implied and Frank Vogel weren’t on the same page and that Vogel didn’t appreciate what he brought to the league. He also alluded to not being allowed to let Russ be Russ when discussing the trio with him Lebron James and Anthony Davis. It seemed like both sides were trying to put a square pin in a round hole. It didn’t fit.
If you look at Westbrook’s $47 million player option, no team will pay Westbrook anywhere near that much. If he wants to maximize his earnings, he should easily go for this deal.
I asked a few NBA executives what they think of Westbrook’s commercial value now.
One NBA executive said, “Westbrook is still viewed as a negative asset by most teams, but some teams may be willing to take a bad year to lose three years of future money.”
Another NBA executive said: “Right now his trade value is extremely negative. However, it only takes a team that is desperate for talent and has bad contracts to make it happen. The reality is that 95 percent of teams currently see this as a terrible contract. They don’t unless they drop a bunch of stuff.”
The third manager said he would not trade for Westbrook at all.
Gozlan: I think some sort of breakup is imminent. I don’t think stretching (determination) is contemplated. That would leave $15 million in dead money over the next three years. It’s basically three of Luol Dengthey’re getting off.
I think the idea that the Lakers have to attach an asset just to move Westbrook and that he’s a super negative is a little overblown. He’s a huge expiring contract now, so for me he’s a neutral value. I don’t think any team will trade for Westbrook the player but they will trade for his big expiring contract if they want to make money.
I would imagine part of the deal when it comes to acquiring Westbrook is a potential buyout. If he agreed to one in the offseason, he would probably give up some bounty, probably the amount equivalent to what he would get on his next deal. I think he would get at most a mid-range offer from an interested team. The idea of shaving $5-10 million off his dead cap hit would be a little appealing to some teams. I’m sure the John Wall to the Russell Westbrook Frame is reissued.
Scotto: I’ll definitely keep an eye on Wall. He was linked to the Lakers this season over trade talks for Westbrook. As I covered the Rockets in a previous HoopsHype podcast, he’s opting into the final year of his contract and will give the Rockets a chance to trade him or his agency, Klutch Sports, will work on an acquisition agreement before the start of the next season ideally.
One GM told me he felt Wall could still be a high-level replacement or a rim starter and that he still had something in the tank.
6:39 Will LeBron James sign an extension?
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Scotto: LeBron turns 38 in December. He has spoken out about wanting to play with his son in the future but is eligible for an extension which would see him locked up anthony davis contract for the next few seasons.
Gozlan: LeBron is eligible starting August 4 for a two-year, $97 million deal that would kick in after next season and keep him under contract through 2025. I would suspect the Lakers will put that offer on the table as soon as it becomes available. The Lakers’ off-season will be mostly over by then, so by then he should have an idea of whether to sign on for another two years. My guess is that he’s not renewing with the Lakers for a number of reasons. First, he has until June 30, 2023 to sign it. Second, he might want to keep the pressure on the Lakers organization after the season they just had. Three he is Lebron James. As long as he plays at this level next year, he has a maximum contract available.
LeBron’s renewal brings its own caveats for the Lakers. Right now, the Lakers are projected to generate over $60 million in cap space for just 2023 Anthony Davis and Talen Horton Tucker under contract. LeBron’s extension to that cap would eliminate that, but I think we can also agree that the Lakers are more likely to not have room for the cap given there’s a good chance they’ll be long-term in a Westbrook deal take money.
12:20 Anthony Davis
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Scotto: LeBron and Anthony Davis believe that if they are both perfectly healthy they can be the basis of a contender. I know that’s a bit of an asterisk, especially with Davis. LeBron has missed some time over the past few years, but he’s generally pretty healthy. Some people wondered if the Lakers would dangle Davis. I personally don’t see that. People have to write things. I see the two staying in tune. Ultimately, Davis went to Klutch Sports to facilitate the trade to get to the Lakers in the first place. He and LeBron have a good relationship.
Gozlan: Davis just had his two worst straight seasons since his rookie season. Health was the biggest problem. He wasn’t the dominant force he was two years ago when they won the championship. I think he can still be a top 10 player again but I think it has to happen this season. I think the Lakers want to keep him for the long term. I remember when Davis signed his five-year maximum after the Lakers won the title and people wondered if he would have left money on the table since he could have gone free agent this offseason and landed a bigger Max contract . Maybe he would still get it this off-season, but given the past two seasons, I think he made a good decision.
14:31 Talen Horton-Tucker, Kendrick Nunn and draft picks as trade lures
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Scotto: I would be shocked if Talen Horton Tucker, Kendrick Nunn and several first-round picks won’t be dangling on the trade market for the Lakers this summer. If you look at their roster outside of LeBron and Davis, it’s the only way for them to improve the team. I don’t think it will bring anything meaningful back to the team. They tried to dangle that before the close.
I find it difficult for them unless they somehow try to consolidate Westbrook’s contract into multiple parts and do the opposite of what they did when they traded him from the Wizards.
Gozlan: I think the Lakers would ideally want to try to trade Westbrook without making a pick and get multiple role players to fill out the list. Then try to package Horton-Tucker and Nunn for something else. Both players can recoup around $20 million. Maybe they’ll attach a pickaxe there and see what they can get.
16:25 Malik Monk free agent value
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Scotto: Monk has been a bright spot for the Lakers this season, bringing great value to the team while playing on a minimum contract and preparing for a pay raise this summer.
I spoke to four NBA executives who projected Malik Monk begin earning an average annual salary somewhere between the taxable and non-taxable middle exception. That would likely be somewhere between about $6 million and $10 million a year.
One executive specifically said, “Malik has had a good year. I was surprised he was a minimal guy last year. I thought it should have been worth more. When you put Monk on a good team, his goals and shots really matter.”
Gozlan: I think he should at least get the mid-level taxpayer exemption starting at $6.4 million. That’s the best the Lakers can offer him. Otherwise, they can only give him a starting salary of around $2.5 million, which is only slightly above his minimum. How do the Lakers plan to prioritize their mid-level exception? I think there’s a pretty good chance they’ll be outbid for him. There are many teams with the full (non-taxpaying) mid-range exemption. I think he’d love to return to the Lakers, but if there’s a team that significantly outperforms the Lakers, I think that possibility is real and they should prepare for it.
21:35 Rob Pelinka’s future and Frank Vogel’s sacking
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Scotto: Pelinka, I think the bullseye is a bit on his back. The Lakers moved away from their defensive identity and what they were good at. they lost Alex Caruso and boys like Ja Vale McGee over the years. I think those were underestimated losses that people didn’t really factor in.
Regarding what Pelinka did to Vogel, I asked some executives in the league what they think. Her assessment was that it was clear Vogel was the scapegoat.
A manager said: “Frank was definitely the scapegoat. One more year for this front office, and unless results improve drastically, they could be in line for more changes.”
Another executive said: “Vogel was the scapegoat. No question. I don’t think they treated him very well on the way out. I am sure he will be fine. He is well respected in the coaching community. He can choose his place as senior assistant if he wants to.”
You can follow Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) and Yossi Gozlan (@ Yossi Gozlan) on twitter.