The Los Angeles Lakers entered free agency with little salary cap flexibility, a predicament that comes with having two All-Stars — LeBron James and Anthony Davis — on the roster.
But vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka and his front office proved their negotiating prowess and emerged as one of the winners of the offseason.
Having traded for the Oklahoma City Thunder’s sixth man Dennis Schroder, L.A. added free agents Montrez Harrell, Marc Gasol and Wes Matthews to their championship roster. All the while bringing back two crucial role players, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Markieff Morris.
The Lakers showed off creativity in contract and trade negotiations that allowed them to make the widely-lauded free agency moves.