In a critical summer for the Los Angeles Lakers, nothing is off the table when it comes to potential roster moves. According to Lakers insider Jovan Buha, the team’s primary target this summer is backcourt star Donovan Mitchell, who has been involved in trade rumors for weeks.
“I heard in recent weeks, if Lakers go down the 3-star path, Donovan Mitchell would be the preferred guy whereas several months ago, Trae Young was a name you were hearing a lot, Dejounte Murray was a name they looked at leading up to the deadline.”
The focus on Mitchell is a notable shift for the Lakers organization. Just a few months ago they were content to pursue a trade for smaller-scale players including All-Star guard Trae Young or Dejounte Murray. Coming into the season, they were more focused on building up their supporting cast than anything else.
But with LeBron James entering the final year of his career, the Lakers are growing desperate to win and they’ve decided the quickest path to that goal is to bring in star power as soon as possible. Since the trade for Russell Westbrook a few years ago, the Lakers have been unable to bring in another big-name player but a young star like Mitchell could change that concerning trend for the Lake Show.
Mitchell, a 6-year veteran, is one of the best offensive players in the game with 5 All-Star appearances, an All-NBA team selection, and a place in history with a 71-point game against the Bulls in January of 2023. This past season marked one of his best in a Cavaliers uniform, with averages of 26.6 points, 6.1 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game on 46.2% shooting.
After another failed playoff run, the word on the streets is that the Cavaliers are ready to break up their star-studded backcourt and both Mitchell and Darius Garland could make ideal targets for the Lakers. Apparently, LeBron James is already scouting ahead to better understand who he could be working with.
The Los Angeles Lakers Are Convincing LeBron James To Re-Sign
As an unrestricted free agent this summer, LeBron James is free to chart his own destiny at 39 years old. But after 21 years of enduring the grind, LeBron freely admits that he’s never been closer to the end.
Between growing retirement talks and the possibility of teaming up with his son after the draft, James’ future with the Lakers has never been more uncertain and there was genuine concern among the fans that they might lose their leader and franchise face.
As the offseason rolls on, it’s looking increasingly likely that LeBron will return to the Lakers regardless of where his son ends up, but it doesn’t mean they’re off the hook this summer. LeBron James and Anthony Davis fully expect the Lakers to provide them with the necessary pieces to win.
Adding a third star would be the solution to a lot of the Lakers’ problems, but it’s only just the start of reshaping the team. In the span of a few months, Rob Pelinka will have to hire a coach and fill out the bench with a very specific goal in mind.
For now, the Lakers are fully committed to maximizing LeBron’s career for however long it lasts and they have plans to bring in some major reinforcements in the form of Donovan Mitchell, Trae Young, or some other high-profile star.
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