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- Lakers rallied from a 26-point third-quarter deficit but end up losing 112-104 to the Clippers for their sixth loss in nine games.
- The Clippers have won 14 of their last 17 games since late December, a dramatic turnaround from their previous 6-21 record.
- The Lakers’ latest loss raises questions about which players could be moved ahead of the trade deadline and who is in danger of not being re-signed this offseason.
Lakers coach JJ Redick understands there’s a “human element” to players looking for more minutes so they can score more points. He knows future contracts are important and his team isn’t immune to focusing on that.
The Lakers have five players in the final year of their contracts and three more with player options for next season, making for eight potential free agents this offseason.
Redick talked about player contracts after the Lakers lost 112-104 to the Clippers on Thursday night at Intuit Dome for their sixth loss in their last nine games.
Lakers star LeBron James says he has always had a “great partnership” with Jeanie Buss since he came to the team in a quest aimed at “restoring excellence.”
“Guys are worried about their futures,” Redick said. “And that’s what happens when you got a team full of free agents and player options. I think it’s just natural that you’re gonna worry about the offense ... and I’ve been there. [It gets] in your head a little bit: ‘Played five minutes, haven’t got a shot yet.’ And that’s a human thing. It’s not anybody’s fault.”
LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber and Jaxson Hayes are in the final year of their contracts. Austin Reaves has a player option for next season, but he’s expected to see what he can earn in free agency. The Lakers can offer him the most — up to five years and $241 million.
Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart also have player options.
When a team is going through some struggles — much like the Lakers, who are just 7-8 since Reaves went down with a calf injury on Christmas — playing time and points can become major issues for players looking for new contracts.
“I’ve been here for four seasons now and every year it’s almost the same but it’s different,” Hachimura said. “You have to survive too, so I get it, I understand it. I think we talked about before the season winning is going to help. So, we got to focus on that and everything is going to come out.”
Still, the Lakers have to play the games in front of them. They’re two games into an eight-game trip, with their next game Saturday night in Dallas.
It means they have to compartmentalize the business of the NBA and the games they are paid to play.
“It is tough. I mean, you got guys fighting for contracts, fighting to stay on the team and you got other guys who are secure and got theirs and kind of understand where they are,” Smart said. “But at the same time, we’re all professionals and we got to come out and do our jobs no matter what. So, the human element does come into play sometimes and you just got to be able to snap out of it quicker than what we are doing.”
1. Clippers center Ivica Zubac scores on a reverse dunk in the fourth quarter of the Clippers’ 112-104 win Thursday at Intuit Dome. 2. Lakers forward LeBron James tries to steal the ball from Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard in the second half. 3. Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt battles Zubac for a rebound in the second half. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
With the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 5, James was asked if he thinks the Lakers need to make any moves.
“Yeah, I do,” he said. “I do.”
With the Lakers (26-17) sixth in the Western Conference, James was asked what the Lakers need to do to level up.
“It’s disrespectful to these guys if I start talking over the deadline and what we need to do; we got to get better, whatever the case may be,” he said. “I’m trying not to play fantasy basketball too much.”
So does James want to finish this season with the Lakers?
“I’m good,” James said. “I’m good.”
