The Lakers are unlikely to get Adams, let alone Turner and Reed, Capela may do it

June 11th, Lakers reporter Anthony Irwin, who works for ClutchPoints, wrote an article talking about the team's prospects for center signings.

The Lakers hold a mini middle class special case (salary is about $5.7 million), which is much lower than the expected salary of the starting center. This makes the trading market the only viable way for the Lakers to bring in the starters they need, and several sources on the team once again say they (the Lakers) are ready to go the path. There are still differences within the Lakers, whether they want to use this only means that can pay free agents more than their base salary (mini middle class special case) to double down on the center position.

The league sources expect competition in the free market will remain fierce this summer, but the situation is not bad enough to allow the Lakers to get Steven Adams (2-year, $25.2 million contract expires), not to mention Miles Turner (2-year, $40.9 million contract expires) and Naz Reed ($15.02 million player option). Capela (who earns about $22.27 million this season) is considered to have an annual salary of about 5.7 million on the next contract, so he is expected to occupy an important position on the Lakers' target list.

Digital sources said the Lakers could also use the Mini Middle Class Special to target Kevin Looney, but if he is willing to accept such a contract, he is likely to get such a contract from the Warriors. Considering age (39), Horford has performed well this season, with the Celtics planning to cut wages and luxury tax expenses, so if the Lakers are planning to double the number of 40-year-old players (to 2, the other one is James), then he (Horford) may be an option.

If the center targets Capela, Horford, Looney or Adams, several sources in the league believe that even if the Lakers have obtained the starting center through trade, the team will still use the Mini Middle School special case to strengthen the center position. Several sources revealed that many people in the Lakers are pushing for this plan. However, some opposition voices pointed out that the Lakers' current frontcourt lineup (Doncic, James, Hachimura, Finney Smith, Kleber, Vanderbilt) have already consumed too much salary.