The summer of 2019 is likely to be one of the most consequential offseasons in recent history for the Los Angeles Lakers. Given the recent resignation of Magic Johnson as president of basketball operations in the wake of the Lakers' underwhelming season, the pressure will be on general manager Rob Pelinka to sign a max-level guy to come play with LeBron James.
Then there is also the question of what to do with the current roster. Of course, the Lakers put a ton of young talent on the table (including Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram) in their pursuit of Anthony Davis. Will they look to make a similar offer this summer, or will they even engage New Orleans again?
And where does that leave players like Reggie Bullock? The Lakers acquired Bullock from the Denver Pistons in February in an attempt to get James a 3-and-D guy to complement his style of play. But Bullock struggled upon coming to Los Angeles, scoring under 10 points per game and shooting over four percentage points worse from beyond the arc despite averaging fewer attempts per game.
Bullock — who made $2.5 million last season — is an unrestricted free agent, but has said he wants to return to the Lakers. Bullock stated, via Lakers Nation:
“I’ve been a fan of this organization throughout my life. They have much respect for me, I have a lot of respect for them. They welcomed me with open arms, so it’s a high level of interest.”
One key question will be whether or not Bullock is willing to take a little less money than his market value might otherwise suggest. The Lakers will be wholly devoted to spending on a max-level superstar, which is a priority this offseason.
Follow Us
Subscribe