With so much at stake for the Lakers next season, everything hinges on the choices they make this summer. While a successful offseason will look different for every Lakers fan, it’s no secret that the team has a few goals they’d like to complete before the start of the next campaign.
After losing to the Timberwolves in five games in the first round, it has become clear to team management that changes are needed. Of course, with limited cap flexibility, the Lakers can only do so much, and they’ll have to pick and choose which positions to upgrade to narrow their search.
Right now, the only untouchable players are LeBron James (along with Bronny) and his co-star Luka Doncic. Everyone else is on the table for the Lakers, including sharpshooting guard Austin Reaves. With these things in mind, we can get a full understanding of what the Lakers want to do over the next few months. This offseason, the path to improvement comes in three main steps, and it’s the only way that the Lakers can be certain about their place in the West going forward.
Expert Training For Luka Doncic
For the Lakers, everything hinges on Luka Doncic, and if they’re to get anywhere of note next season, they’ll need him to be at the top of his game. On his way out of Dallas, the Mavericks raised concerns about his conditioning and work ethic, which are values that the Lakers typically prioritize in their players.
As the face and leading playmaker of the franchise, the Lakers need Doncic to be fully committed, and that means building a plan that helps him stay in shape this summer. Whether it’s with the team staff or his private workout crew, Doncic needs to show the Lakers he’s committed by going above and beyond with his offseason training to ensure he’s at full strength for opening night.
The extra work might set up Doncic to have his best season yet, complete with MVP nominations and a place near the top of the standings. If the bad habits continue, however, it will set a bad example for the rest of the team and clash with the Lakers’ winning culture.
Role-Players In Free Agency
Depth is another area of need for Los Angeles, and they’ll need more firepower at several positions to stand a chance at winning the title. Off the bench, specifically, the Lakers need a player who they can rely on to hold it down offensively and lead the troops when LeBron and Luka are sitting.
With limited cap space, the Lakers cannot get too ambitious in free agency, but they will have a non-taxpayer mid-level exception (projected at $14.1 million) and a taxpayer mid-level exception (projected at $5.7 million) to potentially sign free agents.
As far as potential targets, several names have emerged, such as Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Clint Capela, and Steven Adams. Any player who’s affordable and can contribute meaningful minutes off the bench is worthy of consideration. If the Lakers play this right, they can add some significant depth on the wing (or anywhere else) that’s still within their budget.
Trade For A Top-Tier Center
The Lakers may not be looking for an outright star, but they certainly need an upgrade at center over Jaxson Hayes. While the options in free agency are too expensive for LA, they can make it happen on the trade market, where they have a number of assets to offer (players and draft picks).
By building an offer around Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, or Dalton Knecht, the Lakers can land a high-level player in the frontcourt who can catch lobs from Doncic and play defense on the other end. Potential names include Daniel Gafford, Jarrett Allen, and Nic Claxton. Or, they could also chase young players like Day’Ron Sharpe or Jericho Sims.
With added size and strength down low, the Lakers will no doubt become a much better defensive team, and it’ll go a long way toward maximizing their potential as a unit. If they’re able to keep Jaxson Hayes in the deal, they’ll be set in the backcourt with a more versatile big man rotation to compete against teams like the Timberwolves, Nuggets, and Thunder.
With so many variables at play, it’s impossible to predict how things will end up for the Lakers, but with their two superstars locked in, they already have the groundwork in place for a championship team. To complete their ideal offseason, all they need to do is ensure their core players have enough support and are in the right state of mind for a long and competitive season.
