There has been a lot of conversation around the Los Angeles Lakers this season, as there always is, but a lot of it has been negative. The Lakers have missed Anthony Davis for a big stretch again and while they have a losing record, they’ve shown some signs of improvement. However, the roster has some obvious flaws still that can only be changed when the personnel changes.
Despite things having been better this year, most people would agree that the Russell Westbrook experiment has cost the Lakers. They missed the play-in last season and while they might make it this time, not much is expected of the team as they are now (via HoopsHype).
There are suggestions that a trade could be on the cards, but other reports have claimed that the front office doesn’t want to make any moves. And with the way things are shaping up in terms of contracts, that’s an exciting place to be (via HoopsHype).
The only players that are under contract for the Lakers for 2023-24 are LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Damian Jones, and Max Christie. But the Lakers can trade just about any player this offseason other than LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
14 Lakers Players Are Free Agents In The Summer Of 2023
At this particular moment, the Lakers have 14 players that will become free agents in the summer of 2023. The Los Angeles Lakers are freeing up a little bit of cap room, especially with Russell Westbrook’s $47 million coming off the books. The Lakers could try to sign and trade him for another All-Star player or simply let Westbrook go as a free agent and then sign another free agent instead.
Other than Westbrook, players like Lonnie Walker IV and Dennis Schroder might ask for more money this summer and the Lakers will either have to sign and trade them or sign them at mid-level deals. They could simply let them walk as free agents as well, but retaining some of their better players might be a good idea. Another free agent that could be very interesting is Patrick Beverley. He will probably ask for a lot of money, but he will likely leave the Lakers and sign a long-term deal with another team. The Lakers could trade all 4 of these players till the February deadline, but in return, they must get a player like DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, or Buddy Hield.
Kendrick Nunn hasn’t enjoyed a good season and the Lakers might trade him before the deadline. The same scenario is possible for Juan Toscano-Anderson and Troy Brown. Thomas Bryant has enjoyed a very good season so far, and it will be a great moment for him to sign a lucrative deal next summer. This will be a challenge for the Lakers because they would want to save as much money under the salary cap for All-Star players, making it a tough decision.
A few other players are left to be mentioned like Wenyen Gabriel, Matt Ryan, and Sterling Brown, the latter two have already left the Lakers. And per reports, Austin Reaves will probably sign a contract with the Lake Show this summer. The last players on the list are two-way contract players like Cole Swider and Scottie Pippen Jr, who will probably want to play somewhere else if they can get more minutes on the floor.
Los Angeles Lakers will have a lot different team next season than they have this year. They will have cap space and flexibility to sign free agents. Who would be the best player they can sign next summer? Kyrie Irving is possibly the main target, but everything depends on the Nets and if they win a championship.
Myles Turner could also be an interesting option, but that means Thomas Bryant will leave the Lakers. We can’t forget to mention Draymond Green, but he must reject a player option and he would probably ask for a two or three-year deal with the Lakers. Other interesting options would be Kyle Kuzma, which is a bit unrealistic, D’Angelo Russell, and Harrison Barnes, but it all depends on if they can land an All-Star like Zach LaVine or DeMar DeRozan before the February trade deadline.
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers have numerous possibilities in front of them, but the focus will be on getting into the postseason this year. Anthony Davis will be back on the floor soon and with the Lakers just 4 games behind the 4th seeded Pelicans, a good playoff run isn’t out of the question. These are uncertain but exciting times for Lakers fans.
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