Let’s answer the question now, with two words: Hell no.
D’Angelo Russell signed a contract (2024-25 player option; waived his implicit no-trade clause) that exists almost solely to move at a later date. Rui Hachimura is on a deal (two years, $35.3 million remaining) the Lakers should probably be hocking all over the league.
Jettisoning Gabe Vincent (two years, $22.5 million) when he is injured, has appeared in just five games and is, thus, at the absolute nadir of his value wouldn’t be ideal. But if the Lakers need another mid-end salary to step-ladder their way toward a more expensive player, cutting the cord is hardly prohibitive.
This question gets more interesting when shifting to L.A.’s less-expensive players. Rerouting names who don’t make enough to bring back anyone or anything valuable on their own isn’t that palatable. But even by these standards, the Lakers have about two players who are “Probably shouldn’t move because…” material.
Finding someone who approximates the utility of Taurean Prince at his price point (expiring at $4.5 million) is darn near impossible. The same goes for Max Christie (expiring at $1.7 million; restricted free agent this summer). Holding onto both makes sense.
Then again, the Lakers are so barren of enticing assets, they can’t be that selective, and retaining Prince beyond this season may be an impossibility anyway. L.A. can only offer him a starting salary of $5.4 million next year before it must tap into the mid-level exception. Christie has played like a shot of adrenaline on more than a few occasions, but he’s galaxies from can’t-miss.
If either one—or anybody else on the roster—can push a deal that nets a closing-lineup member over the top, the Lakers have nothing to think about.
Verdict: AD, LeBron and, yes, Vando are the only truly untouchable players on the Lakers roster.
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