Eric Maynor's player option call changed everything
For Lakers fans hoping to see the team finally commit to winning, it was the worst possible scenario. DeMar DeRozan, taking advantage of his revived stardom in purple and gold, rejected his player option and walked into a money-flush free agency market as one of the most attractive UFAs. Meanwhile, Eric Maynor, despite making just $2 million, and furthermore facing a huge glut in the backcourt, opted to stay. And just like that, the Lakers charged headlong into rebuilding mode - left $48,000 short of being able to make an RFA max due to DeRozan's cap hold and Maynor's bizarre decision to cool his heels on the Lakers' bench.
One might well ask why the franchise opted to retain DeRozan's rights. After all, wasn't the original plan if he declined his option to dump it and launch the renewal yet again? But that would only make sense if there was a UFA worthy of a max contract who 1) the Lakers could lure in without DeRozan, and 2) fit the team's age, needs, and window. After a review of the free agent crop, the answer was clear - there simply isn't one. And being just shy of the RFA max means a huge disadvantage against those organizations who can offer it - let alone the residing mother teams who can easily match, given how toothless the luxury tax penalties are - after all, 2nd and 1st round picks mean nothing to those franchises hunting championship glory.
Furthermore, by keeping their star's rights, the Lakers can explore sign and trade possibilities - none of which have yet emerged due to the sudden, surprise announcement that the team was accepting offers for DeRozan. Nonetheless, it's another chip to toy with in the move towards once again reshaping the roster and its assets. Nor, it must be stressed, does this necessarily mean the USC alum playing elsewhere next year is a foregone conclusion. DeRozan did spark a winning record the first 20-30 games after arriving to Los Angeles, after all, and in Maynor and George Hill, that's another $10 million off the books next year, the summer prior to Walter Tavares' final rookie contract season.
The situation does all but guarantee one player is leaving, however.
Amir Johnson ponders where he'll play next
The chatter around Amir Johnson has been loud and persistent all summer long, and with DeRozan's opt out, it's seemingly a virtual lock that he'll leave the Lakers without ever having played a single game for them. The hybrid forward whose quality all around game has drawn rave reviews across the league has seen three offers of future first round picks, one of which the organization has rated as a strong potential lottery pick. Currently that team is in the lead, leaving those others who were bidding with the choice of whether to ramp up their offer, or see him walk.
Word out of the Lakers is that George Hill is going to stay with the team until the deadline. One other franchise inquired, but their assets were so minimal, GM Jestor reportedly laughed hysterically and said, "In other words, you have nothing to get him with." Less certain is Robin Lopez - a player whom the front office absolutely loves, but moving him would clear the way for Cristiano Felicio to get maximum development and playing time. What *is* a guarantee is that neither T.J. McConnell nor Walter Tavares are leaving, and all calls for both will be rejected - unless someone comes with an offer for a young superstar for the former. But even that, sources say, is looking more and more remote a possibility, given the scarcity of the Arizona Wildcat's skillset around the league.
What seems most likely to happen now is a very quiet summer of free agency - the team will decide on trades and DeRozan, then fill out the rest of the roster with min-sal one year bench signings. Given the powerhouse Pacific, as noted before numerous times, it simply wouldn't make sense for the Lakers to go all in to try and make the playoffs this year. Particularly not after getting snakebit in the draft lottery all three years of the CSL's existence.
