The Los Angeles Lakers have been involved in almost every trade and free agency signing rumor, but the team has not made a major move that would excite their huge fanbase. Aside from drafting Dalton Knecht and Bronny James, there has not been much to talk about that gives a glimmer of hope that the team can return to its championship form.
In a podcast hosted by The Athletic, Andy Kamenetzky of “Locked on Lakers” gets to discuss what could be going on in the mind of Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka. For him, this offseason was compared to yesteryears where the Lakers made huge signings and trades.
If you look around the league, … it’s been a pretty quiet offseason, period. I don’t think there’s been a ton of action,” Kamenetzky said. “It’s not like it’s felt like half or three-quarters of the league has been really reshuffling their decks in meaningful ways and the Lakers are the anomaly. Compared to other offseasons, it’s been relatively quiet.”

More than the league not moving many parts, Kamenetsky feels that the Lakers are also strapped with the implementation of the second apron in the salary cap. This made the team management proceed with caution in adding or trading players.
“I feel like beyond whatever restrictions the Lakers are working with, you get a sense that the new CBA, there a lot of teams that want to be a little bit cautious just to see how things play out in the new ‘apron world,’ as [LA general manager] Rob Pelinka likes to call it,” Kamenetzky said.

Los Angeles Lakers interested in trading for Cam Johnson
The Brooklyn Nets have been trading their core pieces, and many see this as the team’s bid to draft Cooper Flagg in the 2024 NBA draft. After trading Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks, the Los Angeles Lakers are reported to take part in the firehouse sale to get stretch forward Cam Johnson.
In an article on the New York Post, Brian Lewis writes that the Lakers are looking to see if they have a chance on getting Johnson from the Nets. However, other suitors that are in competition with the Lakers are the Orlando Magic, Saramento Kings, Toronto Raptors and Golden State Warriors.
Johnson is set to earn $23.6 million in the 2024–25 season. He still has three years left on his current contract with the Nets, worth $68 million. Last season, he averaged 13.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting 39% beyond the three-point line.
