The Los Angeles Lakers are already mapping out their summer free agency strategy despite sitting in solid playoff position following the All-Star break.
An Eastern Conference executive told ESPN the franchise needs to prioritize three-and-D players after a quiet trade deadline left defensive questions unanswered.
“They need to get as many defenders with length that can knock down a shot as possible,” said one Eastern Conference exec, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
Los Angeles made only one significant move before the deadline, trading Gabe Vincent to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for sharpshooter Luke Kennard. That deal addressed shooting but did nothing to solve their lack of defensive versatility, a problem many expect will be exposed come playoff time as it was last year.
The Lakers currently sit just two games above the play-in line in the Western Conference, meaning things could get dicey down the stretch. Their focus has shifted toward summer when several unrestricted free agents fitting their desired profile will hit the market.
“Unrestricted free agents who have been discussed internally, sources told ESPN, include Andrew Wiggins and Tari Eason, while Tobias Harris, Quentin Grimes and Dean Wade are other players who fit that profile,” reported McMenamin.
Wiggins represents the most intriguing target given his championship pedigree with Golden State and his ability to guard multiple positions while providing consistent three-point shooting.
Eason offers elite defensive energy and improving offensive skills, though his market value may price him beyond what the Lakers can afford depending on their cap situation.
Denver’s Peyton Watson also on radar
McMenamin also added that “The Lakers also privately discussed restricted free agent Peyton Watson,” of the Denver Nuggets. At this point, all indications are that the Nuggets plan to bring back Watson following his breakout campaign this season, although the Denver ownership does have a history of letting prized free agents walk out the door due to their unwillingness to go into certain tax aprons.
Watson’s restricted status complicates any pursuit since Denver can match any offer sheet he signs. The Lakers would need to present a contract rich enough to discourage the Nuggets from matching, which becomes difficult given their own luxury tax concerns and limited cap flexibility.
Currently, there isn’t a single player on the Lakers’ roster who is above average on both ends of the floor. That glaring weakness undermines their championship aspirations despite having talent elsewhere on the roster.
Last year, the Lakers had a solid two-way player in Dorian Finney-Smith, but he ended up joining the Houston Rockets in free agency over the summer.
