NBA Rumors: Lakers Targeting One of 8 Players With Full Midlevel Exception

The Los Angeles Lakers, pending something completely unexpected, given their salary cap and luxury tax situation, will only be able to add one free agent on a full taxpayer mid-level exception—which comes in at around $6.4M.  Lakers beat writer for The Athletic, Jovan Buha, says there are 8 names that LA will be pursuing with that mid-level exception.

Players the Lakers will target with their full taxpayer midlevel exception include Otto Porter Jr., Nicolas Batum, Gary Harris, T.J. Warren, Caleb Martin, Cody Martin, Mo Bamba and Danuel House Jr., according to multiple league sources.

And of course, they're definitely interested in re-signing their own free agent, Malik Monk, if he's still willing to take a team discount. 

According to Buha, the Lakers also have as many as six openings for veteran minimum contracts. That list includes the likes of Nemanja Bjelica, Jeremy Lamb, Jevon Carter and Juan Toscano-Anderson.

Lakers VP of basketball operations says they'll be looking for “guys that will really get after it defensively,” as well as noting "I do think, of course, having shooting around our three stars is going to be really important to create space.”

They're off and running as of 6pm ET. 

Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports