Just so I understand - Lakers would have $32 million for next season if they stretch?
And they have to fill minimum 6 roster spots?
Yep, that's basically right. About $32 million under the **tax** and something like $4M under the cap (which isn't really room). Of course, that depends on Kendrick Nunn opting in to his ~$5M deal, but seeing as he didn't play all year with a really long-term bone bruise, it would be kinda of dumb for him not to. That also includes the Lakers bringing back Stanley Johnson on his ~$2M team option, but as it's barely above the minimum...in fact, without checking it might actually be the minimum given his years of service...either they keep him or sign another guy to a similar deal in the end.
So that's 7 roster spots taken up (LeBron, AD, THT, Nunn, S. Johnson, Reaves and Gabriel) and 6 to fill with that $32M before hitting the tax. Still, they would have the full MLE, and could use the Bi-Annual and do S&Ts as long as they stay under the apron, which would be about $39M in space to do that. Doable, but hard to make much of a splash.
Now if you thought I meant $32M in CAP ROOM...nah. They won't have that!