Report: Lakers Decline 3rd Year Option on Jalen Hood-Schifino. Are They Prepping for a Trade?

Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers

Generally speaking, the sixth game of the season isn't a "must win," under any circumstances.

This sixth game, however? Could be the exception to the rule. The Lakers are in Toronto tonight, playing a shorthanded, likely lottery-bound Raptors squad missing its best player (Scottie Barnes), probably it's third best player (Emmanuel Quickley) and a valuable role player (Kelly Olynyk).

So yeah, if you're a Lakers squad that is coming off its worst performance of a young season, looking to legitimize the first three games of the season after two straight losses? Gotta win this one.

All hands will be on deck. Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves aren't on the injury report, and D'Angelo Russell is listed as probable.

In other news, the Lakers reportedly won't pick up the third year option on last season's #1 draft pick, Jalen Hood-Schifino. This is, unquestionably, an unusual move. Teams will sometimes choose not to pick up fourth-year options, but a third year? It doesn't happen often. So why are the Lakers going in this direction? First and foremost, it seems to be about roster flexibility. Perhaps over the summer, where not having $4 mil or so guaranteed for JHS makes it significantly easier for the Lakers to shed enough salary to use their full mid-level exception. Likely, the Lakers are thinking about this season, and the ability to move JHS as part of a trade. Clearly they're calculating that dangling him on an expiring contract will have more value than the opportunity for a team to take a chance on his talent.

That, to say the least, is not a ringing endorsement of JHS's development, but is it also a commentary on the state of the roster more broadly? If the Lakers thought they had appealing pieces to package, would they do this? If Gabe Vincent had appeal? Or Max Christie? Certainly they're familiar with the (lack of) market for D'Angelo Russell. Jarred Vanderbilt hasn't played in a while. And so on.

And what does this mean about the team's recent track record in drafting? Or the grand plans around player development?

It's an interesting move for the Lakers to say the least, but one that raises some red flags.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers need to win tonight in Toronto.

SEGMENT 2: The Lakers won't pick up the option on Jalen Hood-Schifino.

SEGMENT 3: What does this say about future moves?

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