# @culturesportz on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DaGR93dEaHV
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/67174170-culturesportz-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/52d9d6420a.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-06-27T17:43:23.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** culture sportz (@CultureSportz) — https://gondola.cc/CultureSportz

## Caption

The #Lakers have about $50m in cap space this summer. Which players should they target? What weaknesses should they address?🤔

Lakers cap space remains highly fluid, and could increase with a salary dump trading featuring any of Vanderbilt, Ayton or Knecht. Whether LeBron re-signs or not also drastically affects their cap space situation.

But regardless of specifics, LA has two obvious weaknesses to address in my opinion.

1) Point-of-attack defense. Someone who can navigate a screen and keep the ball in front.

2) Rim protection. Someone who alters shots at the rim; ensures a defensive breakdown isn’t an automatic 2 points.

With these in mind, my number 1 target for LA this summer is #LuDort He has a $17.7m team option with OKC, who still need to slash considerable salary to duck the 2nd apron and reduce their luxury tax bill.

The Lakers can either take Dort’s team option into their cap space via trade, or sign him outright in free agency if his team option is declined.

For the Center position and added rim protection, I like either #MitchellRobinson or Robert Williams here a lot. Both players will be highly sought after this summer with salaries starting between $10m-$15m.

From there, Lakers have to decide if they want to bring LeBron back, let him walk, or work with him in a sign-and-trade (Cleveland and Jarrett Allen is reportedly an option here).

Lastly is the Room Exception—an extra tool for cap space teams when they’ve used up their cap space. It’s worth up to 3-years $30m.

Note: #AustinReaves will officially sign his 4-year $185m extension after the Lakers’ other moves are complete. His $20m cap hold is what enables their offseason of $50m+ in cap space.

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## Tags

mitchellrobinson, ludort, lakers, austinreaves

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