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Bogut suggests 'salary-cap situation' distracting Lakers teammates

David Richard / USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers' reported plans to cash in on next summer's free-agent bonanza might be weighing on the minds of their current players.

Though there are still seven months to go before players hit one of the most anticipated open markets in recent years, the Lakers' possible preparations to free up cap space have already seemingly begun to unfold. On Saturday, both Randle and Jordan Clarkson saw their names included in separate trade rumors, and center Andrew Bogut believes the business side of the game may have played a part in Los Angeles' loss Saturday to the Portland Trail Blazers.

"Pouting? Possibly. Guys are frustrated," Bogut told ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk. "There are some injuries right now, different rotations. Guys are frustrated, obviously. You would be lying to say that there are guys that are not frustrated on this team.

"Everyone knows what is going on with the salary-cap situation next season and all that. That is just distractions that we can't let affect us. That is part of the league, the business decisions that front offices and coaches make. So if that is distracting guys, that is going to be like that your whole career. That is just the nature of this league."

Among the possible free-agent names available in July is Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George, who is likely to opt out of the final year of his deal to seek a max contract. George and his hometown Lakers have long had a reported mutual interest in joining up in 2018, though Los Angeles could also choose to make a run at other prospective free agents, including Chris Paul, DeMarcus Cousins, and even LeBron James, who, like George, owns a player option for 2018-19.

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