Thursday, December 7 2023
Los Angeles Lakers guard Malik Beasley (5) savors a three point basket and calls out to the crowd in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Tuesday, March 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

The Lakers are likely to decline the club option on guard Malik Beasley’s contract for next season. (Matthew Hinton / Associated Press)

The Lakers have waived center Mo Bamba and guard Shaquille Harrison, the team announced Thursday. They are likely decline the team option on Malik Beasley’s contract, creating a way for the team to potentially use the full mid-level exception once free agency opens Friday, people with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly told The Times.

The moves, which have not been made official, open enough space below the NBA’s tax apron for the Lakers to make a competitive offer to free agents like Denver’s Bruce Brown or Golden State’s Dante DiVincenzo — both of whom would be in line for less should they re-sign with their teams.

The $10.3 million owed Bamba and the $2.4 million owed Harrison for next season would have become guaranteed after Thursday. The team also had a Thursday deadline to decide on Beasley’s team option of $16.5 million for next season.

Beasley and Bamba were a part of the Lakers’ trade deadline shakeups, with the Lakers acquiring Beasley as part of the Russell Westbrook trade and Bamba in a deal with Orlando for Patrick Beverley.

Beasley played in 26 games, starting 14, after the trade and averaged 11.1 points on 35.3% three-point shooting. An ankle injury slowed Bamba, who appeared in nine games for the Lakers.

Free agency officially begins Friday at 3 p.m. PDT.

Read more: The Lakers and Rob Pelinka’s free-agency plans center on continuity

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Source: Yahoo Sports

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