Los Angeles Lakers pivot to supporting pieces after Kawhi Leonard, Paul George land with Clippers

Kawhi Leonard shifted the balance of power in the NBA in the wee hours of Saturday morning, choosing to join the Los Angeles Clippers over the Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors. In conjunction, Leonard recruited Paul George, nudging the Oklahoma City Thunder star to request a trade and ultimately securing front-runner status for his new team. On the other side of the Staples Center, however, the Lakers were forced to pivot with Leonard off the board and salary cap space burning a hole through Rob Pelinka's pockets. Ultimately, Los Angeles picked up four signings in a matter of hours, headlined by the addition of Danny Green. 

Green reportedly agreed to a two-year, $30 million contract and that was the big move from a Lakers team that needed action to fill out their roster around LeBron James and Anthony Davis. In many ways, Green is a perfect complement in that he can space the floor on offense and defend well on the other end, all while operating as a pure supporting piece that doesn't need the ball to succeed. 

The Lakers weren't done there, though, bringing back Kentavious Caldwell-Pope on a two-year, $16 million contract and immediately landing JaVale McGee for two years and more than $8 million. Neither move was at all surprising with the slim pickings available on the free agent market but Los Angeles did go outside its own walls in one additional case, picking up a two-year commitment from former Golden State Warriors guard Quinn Cook.

While the moves executed by Pelinka and his staff certainly don't rise to the level of someone like Leonard walking through the door, the Lakers did pivot quickly and, in doing so, are crafting a reasonable supporting cast around their two stars. Los Angeles certainly needs more help in the backcourt, where Cook is not an ideal lead guard for a title-contending team. Still, the Lakers added quality rotation pieces in Green and Caldwell-Pope, a functional center in McGee and a sharp-shooter in Cook, attempting to make the most of a sub-optimal situation.