I think you are mostly right, but if I’m them then I’m putting a huge premium on the optionality of Beasley’s deal and still balking at paying $24 million for Conley or paying him $14 million to go away.I know cuz it was reported… they had internal meeting and it wasn’t unanimous so they decided to pass… for now. It was close to happening.
Please show me the last good player on a rookie deal that was traded for picks. Those trades don’t happen.
Their plan is to be opportunistic with those picks and that space. We could have provided something that works one way or another. They don’t want some “random Euro” we got Beasley… Mike… Vando… JC. Taking on salary isn’t as big an issue as you are making it… they likely can do more in FA with expiring deals than their cap space… no top tier FA is signing with them for 10M below the max.
If they take Mike out and sub Beasley in, the Lakers keep their options open while fielding a good team. That should mean more to them than closing a door to crack open another.