The Lakers and the Clippers did the work during the two -day NBA draft which was completed on Thursday evening and now they will come their attention to the formation of their lists.
The first key dates are Sunday, when LeBron James and Dorian Finney-Smith must inform the Lakers and when James Harden must inform the mowers of their decisions to opt in or out of their contracts, and Monday, when the free period of the NBA begins.
James has a player option for $ 52.6 million and Finney-Smith has one for $ 15.3 million.
“At this stage, we will know the tools we have to go out in a free agency and fill out the draft list ending tonight,” said Rob Pelinka, president of Lakers basketball operations, at Spectrum Sportsnet after the second round of the draft on Thursday. “The work for this has already started, but the emphasis will be put in the objective of the project to develop the free agency and we will not rest until we have been successful.”
Harden, who has a player option of $ 36.3 million, also has the same day to make his desires known.
“It is our priority N ° 1,” said Lawrence Frank, the president of the clippers basketball operations, to the media after the first round of the project on Wednesday evening. “We hope that James is here and that he has been here for a long time. He has a player option, so that he can oppose … or he can unsubscribe and I hope that we can make an agreement that makes sense for both sides. But James, as you know, was phenomenal and we hope to continue to see his game.”
The Lakers were able to add a sports wing player when they acquired Adou Thiero in a business with the Minnesota Timberwolves, who chose it with the 36th choice of the second round.
The most urgent need for Lakers remains a center, and they will have to examine the free agency or via trade to acquire one.
The best great men are Myles Turner of Indiana, Brook Lopez from Milwaukee and Clint Capela of Atlanta.
Turner, who won $ 19.9 million last season, probably returned to the Pacers and will do it at a price that Lakers cannot offer him. Lakers have the intermediate level of taxpayers of approximately $ 5.65 million to spend.
“As I said at the end of the year, we know that one of the things we have to approach is the central position and it will clearly be one of our goals when we start the free period,” said Pelinka in the Lakers television show. “And it’s just around the corner.
“So we can’t wait to just work hard and make sure we take care of all needs on the list to give [Lakers coach] Jj [Redick] The tools he needs so that this team is great next season. »»
Although the Clippers wrote a center in the first round with the 30th choice, obtaining the Yanic Konan Niederhausher by Penn State, Frank said that his team “would probably have at least three centers”.
The clippers can use their non-taxable intermediate level exception which should be around $ 14.1 million in one or two players, and maybe even find a center.
They will also show reasonable diligence by calling on other teams to see on commercial opportunities.
“You are still in constant contact with all the teams,” said Frank. “You have a good sense of things you can get involved and other things you are not.”
The free agency starts at 3 p.m. on Monday, but players cannot sign contracts until July 6.
In addition, the Clippers Norman Powell wing is eligible for a contract extension. He has a year left for $ 20.4 million next season.
“At the appropriate time, we will sit with Norm and its representatives to talk about the type of extension and what it would look like and the way it would adapt in the situation as a whole,” said Frank.
