How Will the Lakers Get Down to 15? Why Holes at the Back of the Roster Are Important

The Lakers have a little less than a week to get their roster down to 15 players. Rob Pelinka has noted that they have been, and still are, looking to make a 2-for-1 "consolidation" type deal that would allow the Lakers to shrink the roster without cutting a player. 

That feels unlikely, in the sense that anything that might be available to them probably would have presented itself, but there's still the possibility that as teams shuffle players around before the start of the season that some type of opportunity might arise. How big a price should the Lakers be willing to pay? If it doesn't result in them adding a player that contributes to this year's rotation, probably not a ton. 

So how to the Lakers get down to 15? We've talked about how the math impacts things - why Jaden Hardy's contract has value. We've talked about considerations by position (they don't have as many 1/2s as 2/3s). But we haven't talked much about merit. Has anyone earned a spot? 

And why does this conversation about the back end of the roster matter? Obviously Bronny James comes with all sorts of other baggage attached when trying to have a sober-minded discussion, but how important are these end-of-the-roster spots for a team that wants to elevate, but doesn't have a lot of resources to do it? 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

PHOTO CREDIT: Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

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