The Los Angeles Lakers will face a difficult summer time subsequent yr with a number of contractual selections looming.
A number of gamers have contracts that may lose contracts past simply LeBron James, creating advanced roster administration situations.
Austin Reeves has the choice of a participant subsequent season and is rumored to be a possible departure candidate.
The Lakers will even must resolve which gamers, reminiscent of Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, and Rui Hachimura.
NBA analyst Zach Lowe believes Tamura deserves a $26 million annual contract based mostly on his eligibility and manufacturing.
Lowe sees Japan’s ahead as an underrated contributor providing sure advantages.
“I feel Louis Hachimura is sweet. I feel he is really underestimated,” Lowe stated.
Tamura might or might not begin subsequent season, however Lowe believes he’ll present distinctive worth to the Lakers system.
The ahead shot 41.3% from the 3-point vary final season, averaging 13.4 factors and 5.0 rebounds per recreation, along with his measurement including further versatility.
“I do not know what would occur if the reply to the Lakers’ issues was a 40% three-point shooter with one-on-one abilities and defensive versatility enjoying round star gamers,” Lowe defined.
“I feel there’s really a debate about this (an extension). He is an attention-grabbing candidate,” he added.
Nonetheless, Lowe additionally believes that issues about CAP flexibility may forestall the Lakers from providing a big wage improve to Takamura.
The franchise prioritizes sustaining financial flexibility within the 2027 offseason, the place stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic might develop into accessible.
Sam Amic, co-host of Lowe’s podcast, uncovered one other issue that would negatively have an effect on the human area scenario, particularly the Lakers’ curiosity in Andrew Wiggins.
The 2-way wing represents the kind of gamers Los Angeles is trying to construct a roster.
If the Lakers efficiently purchase a Wiggins-type participant, they could enable Lake Village to depart slightly than make investments a big amount of cash in his extension.
“In the event that they bought a swing and mistake of Andrew Wiggins kind, I may have used a few of that cash on Rui and see them, ‘Do not step again right here,'” Amic defined.
This case creates uncertainty for each Tamura and the Lakers as they steadiness the long-term wage cap administration for the longer term summer time with the pursuit of potential superstars and the fast roster wants.
