The Los Angeles Lakers are set for a busy offseason, marked by numerous major moves to be made. In light of this, NBA insider Jovan Buha recently shared his list of the most realistic moves the team would make, highlighting the team’s most tradeable assets in the process, during an episode of “Buha’s Block“.
While speaking about the realistic outcomes, Buha expressed how the team was likely to use their taxpayer MLE to sign a player. In addition to this, he said:
“They [Lakers] trade at least three of Rui, Gabe, Dalton, and Maxi Kleber, and they’re not sure about the inclusion of a first-round pick.”
“Those are their four primary tradeable player assets with expiring contracts, and Dalton’s still on a rookie deal, so I think they trade at least three of those four players. Again, the first (pick) will come down to the opportunity cost that is out there and the types of guys they can get back.”
A number of the Lakers’ needs and requirements were made known during the exit conference. The demand for a solid big man to fill out their frontcourt rotation emerged as the priority for the offseason. In doing so, the team has been in active pursuit of talented candidates, both via trade and in the free agency market.
While several targets have been identified, it has become quite clear that the team will need to part ways with some of their key rotational players to acquire a talented big, particularly in the case of Nic Claxton, Daniel Gafford, or even Mitchell Robinson.
In this regard, the aforementioned players all bring something to the table. Rui Hachimura has been an extremely serviceable forward during his time in LA. He showcased incredible two-way ability, often drawing on tough defensive assignments while also developing into a reliable perimeter threat.
Hachimura’s averages of 13.0 points and 5.1 rebounds certainly leave more room for satisfaction. However, as an expiring contract, teams would see some value in picking him up now.
Vincent and Kleber have also been serviceable. While there is little to say about Kleber, considering he missed most of the season with an injury, Vincent was an integral role player, averaging 6.3 points on 40.0% shooting from the field and 35.3% from beyond the arc.
Meanwhile, the Lakers’ most valuable prospect in this list is their young guard Dalton Knecht. The 24-year-old showed a lot of potential in his rookie season, averaging 9.1 points and 2.8 rebounds while shooting 46.1% from the field and 37.6% from the three-point line.
His perimeter shooting certainly presents a lot of scope for development in the future. But his overall offensive package, including his ability to finish at the rim, could be considered valuable to a team looking at young players.
Additionally, the team still has some scope to include players such as Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton via sign-and-trade, along with their second-round picks.
Of all the assets the Lakers have, their stock of expiring contracts is immensely valuable when considering trades. With almost $55 million in expiring contracts, the Purple and Gold are capable of facilitating some incredible trades to help structure their roster for the upcoming season.
Other than trades, the Purple and Gold would still need to clear up cap space to acquire some targets in the free agent market. While the likelihood of Clint Capela joining the team has gathered more traction in recent days, the team will also look at other options to improve their wing depth.
Overall, much of Buha’s predictions for the offseason are based on the notion of LeBron James opting into his contract or signing a new deal, and Luka Doncic signing a three-year deal with the Lakers. With much of the roster construction being dependent on these events, the Purple and Gold are unlikely to pull the trigger on any moves.
