Does this trade make sense for the Los Angeles Lakers?
With Dennis Schroder’s pending free agency and with him expected to get anywhere from $15M-$20M per year, the Lakers could be better off investing in a similar player like Eric Bledsoe, who is on a much smaller contract.
The Lakers are in “championship-mode” and basically, the only two players they want tied down long-term are LeBron James and Anthony Davis. These are the only two untouchable players on their roster, as they are constantly looking for ways to upgrade their overall depth and talent.
Bledsoe is owed $18.13M next season and then his contract is partially-guaranteed for $3.9M for the 2022-23 season, giving the Lakers all of the leverage on his contract if they are to acquire him. Long-term, Bledsoe would have no future with the Lakers, which is one of the reasons why this trade may not make much sense, but in the short-term, he can definitely contribute to their championship efforts.
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Giving up KCP and Alfonzo McKinnie is not a big loss at all for the Lakers, especially since Bledsoe can contribute in many different ways, whereas Caldwell-Pope is really just a three-point threat.
Absorbing a little more in salary to get Bledsoe is definitely worthwhile for the Lakers, as they look to maximize their chances of winning as many titles as possible over the course of the next few seasons.
