Lakers' Free-Agent Signing Got LeBron James' Blessing, Hopeful Kawhi Leonard Goes To Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Lakers have begun filling out their roster around LeBron James and Anthony Davis as they wait on Kawhi Leonard’s decision. The team agreed to sign Jared Dudley to a veteran minimum contract Tuesday, maintaining the salary cap space necessary to offer the NBA’s top free agent a max contract.

Dudley was a contributor on a Brooklyn Nets’ team that won 42 games and earned the No.6 seed in the Eastern Conference last season, averaging 4.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 20.7 minutes per night. Having played 12 seasons without ever reaching the NBA Finals, Dudley hopes to be a role player on a team that can win a title.

“I’ve made my money. I’ve had success when it’s come to mentoring young teams. But really I haven’t had that one where before the season started it’s a championship contender,” Dudley told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Tuesday’s edition of “The Woj Pod.” “It’s one thing that’s missing for me.”

Dudley joins a Lakers’ roster that isn’t even half full yet. Shooting guard Troy Daniels, who signed a minimum salary contract after averaging 6.2 points per game for the Phoenix Suns last year, has been Los Angeles’ only other addition in free agency. James and Kyle Kuzma are the only Lakers from last season that are still under contract.

The trade for Davis will become official on July 6.

The Lakers have been looking to use their cap space on an All-Star. There have been reports since the playoffs that James was recruiting players, hoping to convince another star to join him in L.A.

James even gave his blessing for Dudley to join the Lakers before the veteran officially decided to sign with the team.

“There was some backchannels, for sure,” Dudley told Wojnarowski. “You want LeBron to have to sign off on it. You want him to want to play with you. It’s not like I’m an All-Star player, but I’ve very part of the team, any team I’ve been on. You can ask any player, from Giannis (Antetokounmpo) to Devin Booker to John Wall. When it comes to the locker room, I control the locker room. I keep it upbeat. I keep everybody on the same page, and that’s something I knew I could help with here.”

Now, Dudley is rooting for Leonard to be added to the mix.

The Lakers are already the favorites to win the 2020 NBA Finals. If they add the reigning finals MVP and arguably the best player in the league, Los Angeles could turn into one of the most dominant teams the league has seen in recent memory.

A Leonard-James-Davis trio might be even more difficult to beat than the Miami Heat’s Big 3 of James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, which went to four straight finals from 2011-2014 and won two championships.

“It compares to the Heat, but a little more on steroids,” Dudley said. “The reason why I say that is because you arguably have three of the top five best players. I think Wade and LeBron were considered (that). I think Bosh was a little bit on the outside.”

“AD, a year ago, you could’ve argued him being a top two or three best player in the league. Kawhi Leonard this year, taking his team and winning a championship. LeBron, his accolades speak for itself.”

Leonard’s decision is expected to come this week as he weighs joining the Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers or Toronto Raptors.