The Lakers have reportedly signed 2nd round pick Thomas Bryant to a 2-year contract. The deal is a 2-year contract, but has a team option on the 2nd year:
Sources: Lakers and No. 42 overall pick Thomas Bryant of Indiana have agreed to a guaranteed deal for next season, with '18-19 team option.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 27, 2017
Lakers want to maintain as much flexibility for pursuit in free agency next year, and found an agreement with Bryant. https://t.co/SwaNTmErYr
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 27, 2017
First off, it’s nice to hear that Bryant is finally signed. Second, however, I’m a bit disappointed that this isn’t a contract longer than 2-years, even if Charania is reporting that the Lakers are looking to maintain flexibility for next summer. As I recently wrote, the timing of Tyler Ennis agreeing to his contract created a situation which would impact Bryant’s contract length:
Before Ennis signs his deal, the Lakers actually have a small slice of cap space left – roughly $815K to be more accurate. Why does this matter? Well, the Lakers 2nd round pick Thomas Bryant remains unsigned currently. Players selected in the 2nd round can sign for two years using the minimum salary exception (what Ennis just signed for) or a piece of/full amount of any other exception on the books (like the room exception I mentioned above). But a contract using one of those exceptions can only be for 2 years.
However, if you use cap space to sign a 2nd round pick, that contract can be for up to 4 years. The Lakers have likely been saving that last sliver of cap space to try to sign Thomas Bryant to a 3 year (or longer) contract. Having a player signed for 3 years or longer means you obtain his full Bird Rights at the end of the deal and allows you to match full offer sheets when that player hits restricted free agency after his contract is up. If a player hits free agency after his 2nd season, he is subject to the Arenas Provision which limits what can be offered and matched in RFA (restricted free agency), which complicates this entire process for the incumbent team. If you recall Jordan Clarkson’s FA options, you’ll know this well.
Getting back to Ennis, then, when he signs his deal will matter here. If he signs before Thomas Bryant signs, the Lakers will only be able to offer a 2-year contract to Bryant. So, this is something to keep an eye on. The fact that Bryant has not yet signed is a clear indicator to me that the Lakers want him to sign a deal longer than 2 years. The fact it’s not done strongly implies Bryant/his agent are resistant to this.
As we know, Ennis inked his deal yesterday. So, excuse me if I’m not fully accepting the explanation of salary flexibility for next summer as the reason for this deal not being longer.
From where I sit, I’d venture to guess that Bryant and his agent were not too keen on signing for longer than 2-years, wanting the luxury of getting to free agency sooner rather than any “security” of a longer deal. Especially when that “security” is likely just extra non-guaranteed seasons tacked on which give the team all the power and the player little to none.
Outside of the logistics of Bryant’s contract, I’m interested in seeing how he performs in camp and whether he ends up spending more time with the South Bay Lakers or the big team. In Las Vegas, Bryant showed off a nice motor, good work on the glass, and the potential to stretch the floor as a shooter while not alleviating a lot of concerns about his ability to defend in space on P&R’s or outright switches.
So, in saying all that, I think he’d be a good candidate to spend lots of time in the G-League to further develop. Even if you think his shooting and motor are enough to give him longer looks with the big team, the fact is he’s clearly the 3rd center behind Lopez and Zubac right now. On top of that, he should also be slotted behind Randle and Nance in the rotation for guys likely to see any real game minutes at the 5.
So, while I’m fully intrigued by Bryant’s skill set. He’s got a bit of a hill to climb and several guys to leap in the rotation before he’d be considered for actual game minutes. That doesn’t mean it cannot/will not happen, but it will take a lot.
James says
read eric pincus tweets on it, he explains how the two year deal saves cap space for next year rather than a 3-4 year deal
R says
Yep the FO is obviously serious about having cap space for next year – hang on to your hats, it’s gonna be a wild ride!
Vasheed says
As we were discussing before the Lakers had all the leverage in the world to get a favorable deal done. I am disappointed to see a 2 year deal. These rookie contracts serve as a cost control and for the sliver of cap space saved not worth the potential early cost. I don’t really get it were the Lakers racing the clock to sign Ennis? I’m happy to have Bryant signed but, it looks botched in the details.
CraigW. says
Maybe the Lakers had all the leverage, maybe not. Apparently, the Bryant camp wanted the 2yr contract, not the Lakers and the ultimate contract will be for 2yr. Who had the leverage???
Vasheed says
By results I would say Ennis had the leverage. In dealing with Bryant after they tendered an offer he would have had little choice to sign unless he did not want to play for the next 3 years. The only constraint outside of that equation was signing Ennis.
drrayeye says
I expected Thomas Bryant to get one of our two way contracts. He’s done better than that–and he may have shown enough potential to be on the roster. I don’t know how I eel about Thomas as our #3 center.
I was surprised to lose T.J. Dozier to the Mav’s–but I couldn’t imagine him more than a two way anyway. I like having an open regular slot and an open two way slot still available.
Matthew says
Finally. That just leaves the roster spot and one two-way contract spot. But considering Matt Thomas has signed a new contract abroad and P.J. Dozier has been picked up by the Mavs, I’m wondering what that means for the Lakers final two spots. Does this increase Vander Blue’s chances of getting a contract? Or do the Lakers leave the roster as is? I’m hoping you can do an article on potential choices for those two remaining spots (other than Vander of course). Maybe some G-League players that impressed in SL.
Clay Bertrand says
The Lakers may not fill that final roster spot until training camp OR not until later in the season.
Keep in mind, these 2 MAX SLOTS Pelinka is banking on having by next summer will certainly require more maneuvering whether that means trades (which are preferable) or outright stretching a guy like Deng or flat out renouncing a player with a cap hold like Randle (both the stretch and the renounce being the last resort).
Any number of: Deng, Clarkson, Randle, Zubac, Nance, even Lopez in the right kind of deal, COULD be moved this season. Having an available roster spot allows flexibility to take in two players for one (as Pelinka himself stated yesterday).
If someone really emerges in camp or is out there on the market still and the Lakers see a fit, they could move to fill the spot and go into the season with 15. If not, they could choose to keep their options open and go into the season with that open spot.
They also DO have Caruso on that 2 way which is SORTA like potentially having 14.5 players on the roster.
Vasheed says
The Lakers still have depth issues at SF. They can shoehorn a guy like Kuzma behind Ingram or continue using Deng but, ideally they would get somebody more suitable.
Thomas Wallace says
Vander Blue has nothing to offer the Lakers from where I sit. I was disappointed after watching Summer league …he looked out of control, and doesn’t seem to play the type of unselfish basketball that are aiming for. Not to mention his defense was less than average. I had heard so much about him and was just completely disappointed .
I think losing PJ Dozier was a mistake. Unless they can find someone else who they can develop. Hopefully they watch around the league and pick up someone who has the potential making it worth the effort.
Losing David Nwaba will be the biggest regret this FO will have from this off season.
I hope Bryant sticks. I think once he gets the baby day off and gets in great shape he’ll be a different player.
Busboys4me says
I agree that Nwaba will hurt. Tenacious defense, great motor, attitude and person. He really fit us and what we want to achieve. KCP asked for $1M too much.
R says
I assume the Lakers aren’t interested in Kyrie (grin).
Seriously though I’d like to see him on the Clippers. Interesting potential PG rivalry – the battle of L.A.
I feel that Irving is deluded: that he’ll be better off playing without The King; that the Knicks (!) will be a better situation than – well, practically anywhere; and last but not least, that the earth is flat.
Pbz06 says
Bryant is on my watch list. Love his motor and enthusiasm playing the game with joy. Seems like a hard working team player.
His stroke looks for real and comfortable. On the flip side, he has zero touch around the basket.
R says
Also the Cavs are dreaming if they think they are getting equivalent value back for Irving. Since when do teams get close to value back when dealing a superstar who wants out? Kareem? Wilt? Shaq? Don’t make me laugh. Cousins? PG? Nope.
Chris J says
I long for the days when we’re no longer relegated to such deep concerns over the third-string center’s contract status.