The Lakers open Summer League action in Las Vegas on Friday with a matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and No. 1 overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns.
They expect to have the second overall pick, D’Angelo Russell, signed to a contract and in uniform in time to participate.
Bill Oram of the Orange County Register:
The amount of a rookie scale deal is, for the most part, already set. Russell, for example, will make at least $4,108,800 in his first NBA season, but will likely sign for 120% of that number, as is often customary for the league’s top lottery picks.
Julius Randle’s deal was held up last summer because of the Lakers needing to preserve as much salary cap space as possible in case one or more of the marquee free agents agreed to sign. They didn’t, and once that was settled, Randle inked his deal 20 minutes or so before L.A.'s second Summer League contest.
Thankfully for the Lakers, there doesn’t appear to be a similar situation brewing with Russell this year.
