NBA outfit Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly
using their taxpayer mid-level exception to sign former Miami Heat guard
Kendrick Nunn from free agency on a two-year, $10 million deal.

According to a report by ESPN, Nunn had bigger
offers on the table but chose to join the Lakers to try to compete for a
championship.

Nunn was originally in the Heat’s plans. The
Heat had prioritized him and could have matched any offer sheet given to him.
However, their other offseason moves changed their plans.

After the Heats acquired Kyle Lowry through a
sign-and-trade and PJ Tucker with the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, they
triggered a hard cap at $143 million. After the Lakers missed out on Patty
Mills, their original target with the taxpayer mid-level exception, they
pounced on Nunn.

Nunn gives the Lakers a badly needed infusion
of youth alongside Monk. With Bazemore, Ariza, Anthony, and Ellington all 32 or
older and their star LeBron James over 36, the Lakers will still be one of the
oldest teams in the NBA, but the combination of Nunn, Monk, and Talen
Horton-Tucker gives them three young guards with the upside to improve during
the season.

The Lakers have now spent their mid-level
exception and the team is up to 13 players. The bulk of their business seems to
be complete. The Lakers have eschewed the defensive identity that won them the
2020 championship in favor of a more explosive offense with shooting meant to
supplement new addition Russell Westbrook. It is a bold approach, and only time
will tell if it pays off.