It was left to L.A. center Andrew Bogut, one of the grown-ups on a very
young Lakers team, to explain the source of the alleged pouting: the
organization’s very public plan to overhaul its payroll after this
season to lure big-name free agents. That invariably means some
currently employed Lakers will be losing their jobs – and that sort of
worry can wear on a fellow. ESPN’s Ohm Youngmusik provided details:
"Pouting? Possibly. Will Clark Youth Jersey Guys are frustrated," Bogut said of the Lakers as Brandon Ingram sat
out because of injuries to his quads. "There are some injuries right
now, different rotations. Guys are frustrated, obviously. You would be
lying to say that there are guys that are not frustrated on this team.
"Everyone knows what is going on with the salary-cap situation next
season and all that. That is just distractions that we can't let affect
us. That is part of the league, the business decisions that front
offices and coaches make. So if that is distracting guys, that is going
to be Will Smith Youth Jersey like that your whole career. That is just the nature of this league."
The Lakers are building around the two most recent No. 2 overall
picks in the draft -- Ingram and Lonzo Ball -- and also have impressive
rookie Kyle Kuzma. But to pursue potential free agents such as LeBron
James and Paul George next summer, management will have to create cap
space, and Willie Mays Youth Jersey that could impact players such as Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson,
two vets who have been excellent for the Lakers this season off the
bench.
On Friday night, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Lakers
and Dallas Mavericks had some "initial talks" involving Randle and
center Nerlens Noel, but that those talks fell apart when Noel got
injured. According to league sources, the Lakers have received interest
in Randle and Clarkson this season.
Randle did not receive a contract extension offer from the Lakers, who
prioritized payroll flexibility for the offseason. Clarkson, with $26
million left over the final two years of his contract, is a logical
trade piece to dredge more cap space. And being viewed as ledger items,
Bogut said, is one of the challenges of the continuous improvement,
bottom-line focus of professional sports.
"We make light about it, we laugh about it, but you just can't let it
affect you," Bogut said. "It is hard to tell young guys, 18, 19, 20 that
come from a great college environment ... and then you come into a
situation like this sometimes where, kind of, guys don't know if they
are coming or going.”
