The Los Angeles Lakers missed out on another of their reported free agent targets when Dion Waiters re-signed with the Miami Heat. But it wasn’t for a lack of trying.
According to Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders, the Lakers offered Waiters a $17 million deal for one year. According to Scotto, the Lakers were the only other team to offer a contract to the shooting guard, while the Knicks and Bulls had also expressed interest.
Waiters agreed to a four-year, $52 million contract with the Heat on Wednesday.
For the Lakers this summer, this is a familiar story. While they are willing to give out large money for this season, the team has been adamant about not signing any contracts that will be on the books beyond this season. The Lakers hope to preserve maximum cap space to sign two star free agents in 2018, with Paul George’s reported “hell-bent” interest the catalyst behind their decision.
It’s no surprise that the Lakers have been quiet this summer. That has been their plan all along. But their roster imbalance leaves them with few guards, especially veteran ones, leaving some concern about this upcoming season.
Nevertheless, the Lakers do not seem poised to change their strategy now. They will remain patient with the contracts they give out and continue on their current plan.
