Leave it to the Lakers to put on a show from the beginning to the end of this abbreviated offseason. The late Dr. Jerry Buss would be so proud.
As if the blockbuster trade for Russell Westbrook last week wasn’t entertainment enough, with the NBA’s most star-studded organization adding the triple-double king to its dynamic duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis just before the draft, we get to watch this game of minimum-salary musical chairs unfold as they try to build around that $121 million in combined salary next season for the trio. So many veterans vying for their championship chance, with GM Rob Pelinka vetting them all while armed only with the taxpayer midlevel exception ($5.9 million) and minimums. J.R. Smith for the end of the bench, anyone? I’m kidding…I think.
Jokes aside, the Lakers may be the most compelling storyline of them all during this free agency period that officially tips off tonight at 6 p.m. ET and is likely to be light on drama. Still, there are plenty of big-time moves — or non-moves, if you will — that will shape the league. Here are my informed predictions at how some of the more high-profile situations go.
Speaking of Los Angeles….
So Kawhi Leonard,
