There is only one expectation going into a new season for the Los Angeles Lakers , and that is winning the NBA championship. With an aging LeBron James on the roster, the pressure to do that gets even more intense.
And after a few mistakes with roster construction in recent years, the Lakers have done an excellent job in free agency. They have re-signed important pieces and added others to the roster and look set to be a contender in the 2023-24 season.
Los Angeles Lakers Free Agent Signings
Austin Reaves – $56.0 million, 4 years
Rui Hachimura – $51.0 million, 3 years
D’Angelo Russell – $37.0 million, 2 years
Gabe Vincent – $33.0 million, 3 years
Taurean Prince – $4.5 million, 1 year
Cam Reddish – $4.6 million, 2 years
Jaxson Hayes – $4.6 million, 2 years
Total – $190.7 million
Retaining key pieces Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and D’Angelo Russell on team-friendly deals was a massive move by Rob Pelinka and the Lakers organization.
The addition of a steady point guard, Gabe Vincent, and a versatile forward Taurean Prince, also cannot be underestimated. Cam Reddish and Jaxson Hayes were both lottery picks and have the talent to become good players. The immediate future is looking bright.
Los Angeles Lakers Look Stacked Right Now But They Are Not Done Yet
The roster is looking quite set without making any star additions, but the NBA market is volatile right now. The Lakers do need to make some more moves, but as things stand, it looks pretty good for them.
Point Guards: D’Angelo Russell, Gabe Vincent, Jalen Hood-Schifino
Shooting Guards: Austin Reaves, Max Christie
Small Forwards: LeBron James, Cam Reddish
Power Forwards: Rui Hachmiura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Taurean Prince
Centers: Anthony Davis, Jaxson Hayes
The Lakers have two players in every position on the basketball court, which is an excellent place for the roster to be. But that doesn’t mean this team is ready to take on the other top teams in the NBA just yet. There are still areas they can address, particularly in their guard rotation and maybe even at the center position.
The Lakers don’t have a lot of money left to sign players, but they can still find some really good players to fill in the small holes. When it comes to big men, Serge Ibaka could be a player with a championship pedigree that might make sense. Ibaka was waived by the Indiana Pacers after being traded at the deadline but is only just 33 still.
The point guard and shooting guard positions could use some depth as well. John Wall is a free agent, having been bought out by the Houston Rockets at the trade deadline. A familiar face could also be an option as a veteran presence, the Lakers could sign Danny Green, who is also a free agent. He helped them win a championship in 2020 and could be a useful option.
NBA fans seem to think that the Los Angeles Lakers have gotten everything right and it’s hard to dispute that they have done an excellent job in free agency. If LeBron James doesn’t suddenly fall off and Anthony Davis remains healthy, this roster, with an addition or two, could very well end up winning it all in the coming 2023-24 season. It is an exciting time to be a fan of the Purple and Gold.
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