The Lakers officially announced the layoff of Bamba + Harrison! Plans to abandon Beasley intentional goals such as Brown Gordon Da Lo
On June 30, Beijing time, the Lakers officially announced that they had cut Bamba and Harrison. Dave reports that the Lakers are also not expected to execute Beasley's 16.5 million team option. These operations will ensure that the Lakers have access to a full mid-range pick, and their primary target is the Nuggets' Bruce Brown. Dave said the Lakers will also be in touch with representatives of Bamba and Beasley after free agency opens, and may seek other forms of contract signing them back.
The 25-year-old Bamba, who is 2.13m tall and a professional center, was the No. 6 pick in 2018. After joining the Lakers last season, Bamba played only 9 games due to injury, averaging 3.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 0.6 blocks per game. Cutting Bamba is not surprising, after all, he didn't prove himself with the Lakers. Lakers reporters reported that minutes before the news of the cut came out, he was still training in the training gym wearing a Lakers jersey. Some media suggested that the Lakers use the 4.5 million two-year exception to sign back Bamba. Harrison, 29, played in five games for the Lakers, averaging 8.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 6 assists per game.
Beasley, 26, is 1.93m tall and a shooting guard and was the No. 19 pick in 2016. After joining the Lakers last season, Beasley played in 26 games, averaging 11.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while shooting 35.3% from three-point range. He played less time in the playoffs, averaging just 3 points and 0.7 rebounds while shooting 26.9 percent from three-point range.
Lakers reporter Jovan Buka reports that the Lakers are increasingly optimistic about signing Bruce Brown with a full-mid-range exception. This is expected to be a contract with a starting salary of $12.4 million, while the Nuggets can only offer a contract with a starting salary of $7.8 million.
Nuggets reporter Mike Singer spoke about Brown's possible departure. He said that if that happens, it will be difficult for Nuggets fans to swallow. "But I believe there are a lot of teams going after Brown, not just the Lakers. The point is, if Brown chooses to leave Denver, there are plenty of options for him to stay. ”
Bruce Brown intends to meet with the Mavericks shortly after the free agency market opens. The possibility of returning to Denver is not excluded. His mid-market is $12.4 million, but the Nuggets can only offer a maximum of $7.8 million. Nuggets reporters said that if Bruce Brown agrees to delay the salary increase by one year, he can sign another big contract with the Nuggets next summer. Brown's market value is expected to be at least full mid-range, some teams with space can offer larger contracts, and while the Lakers are confident they can sign Brown, there are still teams that can open higher salaries than they do.
In the 2022-23 season, Brown played in 80 games in the regular season, averaging 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game; played 20 games in the playoffs, averaging 12 points, 4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game, helping the Nuggets win the first championship in team history.
In addition, the Lakers are interested in Gordon, López Da and the team wants to renew Schroder, and their point guard targets also include Jevon Carter, Milton and Joseph.