Although teams can still make trades after the NBA trade deadline on February 6th, the Los Angeles Lakers are anticipated to be active.
The LA Lakers are probably going to cut at least one more player before the regular season ends, according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic.
Although the Lakers are technically able to waive more than two players, I don’t see them doing so. According to Buha’s most recent podcast, if it’s two, it’s most likely going to be Alex Len and Cam Reddish.
Additionally, he pointed out that Shake Milton’s non-guaranteed deal has two more years left, which might be useful for future trades. The squad, especially LeBron James and Luka Doncic, respects Markieff Morris, a seasoned presence in the locker room.
He was part of the 2020 title team and he was part of the 2024 Finals run with Dallas, stated Buha. In the locker room, he’s a guy that nobody wants to deal with, sort of like Udonis Haslem. People pay attention when he speaks. I would rather play Reddish than Morris if I had a pistol to my head. However, Markieff Morris is at a higher level when it comes to locker room hierarchy and importance.
I think it really comes down to Reddish and Len, and more likely Reddish than Len. They can technically cut Cam at any point until the last day of the regular season.” “If they waive a second player, it would likely be Alex Len, because again, Shake Milton, they have some flexibility there with throwing him into trades down the line.” “The other 11 players don’t make any sense to waive, Buha said.
Len, a big from Ukraine, was signed by the Lakers on February 11 but hasn’t had much of an impact, averaging just 1.3 points and 3.0 rebounds in three games (11.7 minutes).
Since joining the Lakers in 2023, Reddish has averaged 3.3 points and 2.0 rebounds in 31 games (18.1 minutes) so far this season.
The Lakers, meanwhile, can afford to wait and aren’t in a rush to make roster changes. As of right now, they can only waive one and sign one, and keep them under the 2nd apron,” Buha said. “If they so chose, they could waive a second player, add a second, waive a third, and add a third later in the season when the prorated amount decreases.
Right now, I would say that they cut Reddish and signed [Jordan] Goodwin, but that would be later in the season,” Buha stated.
The Lakers may save money by converting Goodwin, who would be a two-way player and still be eligible for the playoffs.
With a record of 36-21 and a winning streak of 14 of their previous 17 games, the Lakers are now ranked fourth in the Western Conference.
