The Los Angeles Lakers have lost out on most of the big players this summer, but the latest reports out of Los Angeles indicate they could still be in the running for a few key targets. As one team executive told Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports, the list includes Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr.
“Fairly young, probably a little undervalued because of his red flags (injuries) and still tapping into his skill set,” the exec told Heavy Sports. “The contract is right, it makes sense for them. That’s a guy they’re monitoring, but a lot of teams are… Wendell Carter Jr. I think he’s someone they’d go after. He could be a beast as a backup on that team.”
The Lakers are still looking for some direction after finishing 7th in the West and losing in the first round to the Nuggets. With the allure of the city and the chance to play alongside LeBron, the Lakers hoped to attract a star like Paul George or Klay Thompson to sign with them and form a dynasty in the West. Instead, they will have to look elsewhere if they want to mix up the roster in any significant way.
And while those top-tier stars may be off the table, the Lakers can still add game-changing talent in the form of a 7’0″ big man. Lauri, a 7-year NBA veteran, is coming off his first All-Star season with averages of 23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game on 48% shooting. He’s a reliable two-way player with height, speed and a respectable three-point shot (39.9% last season).
Markkanen was thought to be untouchable in trade talks, but if the Jazz are ready for a total rebuild, it could change everything. We know already that the Lakers prefer to move on from D’Angelo Russell, so why not go all-out for a guy who could potentially open the championship window?
Alongside Anthony Davis, the Lakers would have a formidable defensive frontcourt and Lauri would give the spacing required for the stars to attack the rim. With his size, shooting, and all-around versatility he’s the ideal player to save the Lakers‘ offseason and finally make them a threat in the West again.
Unfortunately for the Lakers, it’s unknown for sure if Markkanen is even available right now, and if the Jazz are even close to considering trading away the face of their franchise. This is why Wendell Carter Jr. has become such an increasingly likely fall-back option for Rob Pelinka.
While Carter Jr. is no All-Star, he might come at a lighter cost for the Lakers who could use Carter to build up their defense in the frontcourt. Carter Jr. averaged 11.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game on 52.5% shooting for the Magic last season and at 25 years old he can still raise his game to a whole new level.
With so few assets to spare, it remains to be seen if the Lakers can make a trade of any significance before the deadline. If not, they’ll have to rely on head coach JJ Redick and their new teammates Bronny James and Dalton Knecht to carry the load and live up to impossible expectations.
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