So did the lakers just screw up here regarding when the trade will go down and all the ramifications?
I doubt it. I would be horrified if there isn't a single person in their front office that understands cap math.
Everyone saying that the Lakers had all of the leverage are mistaken. It was either make this trade or
1) sign another non elite max free agent, get the 6th seed, have no cap space for AD next season
2) hold for next year (another lottery trip) and hope AD doesn't reconsider like PG did. Oh BTW LeBron is 35 next year.
The Pelicans would have moved him somewhere.
This was the only way that the Lakers could guarantee that AD is a Laker. They needed this deal.