2023 LA Playoff Rival Enters Free Agency, Becomes Intriguing Target

When your Los Angeles Lakers left the Golden State Warriors in their wake in a six-game second round playoff series win, they also left the 2022 champs with several big questions regarding the future of their front office and on-court personnel. 

Some of those questions have already been answered ahead of free agency.

Longtime team president Bob Myers walked, and his replacement Mike Dunleavy Jr. (son of former Lakers head coach Mike Dunleavy Sr., who coached the club to a 1991 NBA Finals appearance) wasted no time in swapping out the bloated contract of underwhelming reserve combo guard Jordan Poole in exchange for the expiring money of former 12-time All-Star point guard Chris Paul.

Now, it appears that backup shooting guard Donte DiVincenzo will decline his $4.7 million player option for the 2023-24 season in order to test the free agent market, per Kendra Andrews of ESPN.

In so doing, DiVincenzo becomes another fascinating role player option well worth a look for LA this summer, assuming the price doesn't become too exorbitant.

The money DiVincenzo is declining is pretty comparable to next year's taxpayer's mid-level exception, projected at $5 million, which is probably the maximal amount Los Angeles should consider paying.

DiVincenzo, a former champ with Villanova, is a decent defender and shooter. During his lone regular season with Golden State thus far, the 6'4" vet averaged 9.4 points on .435/.397/.817 shooting splits, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.3 steals a night across 72 contests (36 starts).