As part of efforts to reel in Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James in 2018, the Los Angeles Lakers also considered acquiring his long-time friend Dwyane Wade from the Chicago Bulls earlier this offseason via trade or buyout. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com, the Lakers planned to go after Wade via trade or pursue him through buyout after he exercised the $23.8 million player option in his contract with the Bulls. The Lakers saw Wade as a plus in convincing James to move to Los Angeles in 2018. The Lakers’ plan didn’t materialize after they signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a one-year contract worth $18 million.
Bulls might release Wade during the season
According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, while the Bulls plan to keep Wade at the start of the season, there is a possibility that they might release the veteran mid-season by paying the remainder of his contract by January or February. If that happens, Jackson said Wade could join James in Cleveland and play together wearing the Cavaliers uniform for the rest of the season. After that, they could leave the Cavaliers and join the Lakers in 2018 together. Despite playing a career-low 29.2 minutes per outing, the 35-year-old Wade showed that he still has the scoring knack, averaging 18.3 points for the Bulls last season.
The Lakers will have enough salary cap room in 2018 to accommodate both James and Wade and a few more superstars.
The Lakers are planning to keep their salary cap room by signing free agents to one-year deals with a higher value, like what they gave to Caldwell-Pope.
Magic: Lakers poised for success in coming season
With their Las Vegas Summer League performance as a gauge, the Lakers can be successful in the coming season, with No. 2 overall pick Lonzo Ball leading the way.
Ball was picked as Las Vegas Summer League MVP after averaging 16.3 points, 9.3 assists, 7.7 rebounds and 2.5 steals. Ball also tallied two triple doubles in the tournament. Ball tallied his first NBA triple double with an 11-point, 11-assist and 11-rebound performance against the Boston Celtics. He got another against the Cleveland Cavaliers five days later, tallying 16 points, 12 dimes, and 10 boards.
According to Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson, Ball could also do it in the regular season. Johnson also told Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com that Ball should not think about the pressure that goes with his reputation as the No. 2 overall pick and just play his game.
