The Los Angeles Lakers have been poised to be one of the most active teams in the league when it comes to trades, primarily due to their presence in virtually every trade rumor. Unfortunately, their silence during the last 48 hours and their conservative approach towards trades have raised some concerns among the fans.
The Lakers’ offseason plan has been fairly simple: acquire big man depth and wing depth. Their aggressive approach towards acquiring centers has been commendable, with links to players such as Walker Kessler and Clint Capela among many others.
Because of this, the Purple and Gold were also projected to draft a big man in the second round. But much to the surprise of the fan base, the Lakers selected Adou Theiro with the 36th pick, after trading their way up.
Theiro, a forward out of Arkansas, shows a lot of potential as a wing defender, which does address one of the Lakers’ offseason goals. But as solid as he might be, his relative inexperience may not necessarily see him emerge as the primary option for the team.
With Dorian Finney-Smith also opting out of his contract and entering free agency, the Lakers will be in dire need of players on the wing. With this in mind, we rank the five best targets for the Purple and Gold this offseason.
Andrew Wiggins
The Lakers’ primary target for improving their wing depth in the offseason should be Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins. Considering that the Heat have been engaged in trade talks with the Lakers involving Wiggins, the situation appears to be favorable for the Purple and Gold.
Proposed Trade Details
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Andrew Wiggins
Miami Heat Receive: Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent
Wiggins is the ideal fit for the Purple and Gold. As an athletic forward with scoring ability and defensive upside, the 30-year-old brings a lot of quality to the table. In addition to this, his championship experience with the Golden State Warriors would make him invaluable on a team looking to make a title charge next season.
Wiggins is coming off a solid run last season. Although his scoring output decreased after his title run with Golden State, he remained productive, putting up an average of 18.0 points and 4.5 rebounds on shooting splits of 44.8% from the field and 37.4% from beyond the arc.
Any proposal for Wiggins will be centered around Rui Hachimura, an expiring contract. But, with reports suggesting that the Heat have made demands for Dalton Knecht, the proposed package may see some amendments.
Herb Jones
Another key target for the Lakers to fill out their wing depth could be New Orleans Pelicans forward Herb Jones. The young defensive stopper earned All-Defensive honors in the 2023-24 season. With high upside on both ends of the floor, the Purple and Gold could benefit greatly by adding him to their roster.
Proposed Trade Details
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Herb Jones
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Jarred Vanderbilt, Shake Milton
Jones has garnered some interest from teams, particularly in the trade market this offseason. The forward’s defensive upside makes him a viable target for franchises looking to make a deep run in the postseason.
Last season, the 26-year-old recorded an average of 10.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game. His athleticism allows him to guard multiple positions, and his endurance makes him a relevant force throughout the game.
There are some inherent challenges that need to be acknowledged as well. Jones is a limited offensive threat. Although he is capable of catching lobs and cutting to the basket, he doesn’t have a great offensive repertoire. Additionally, his 30.6% shooting average from beyond the arc is less than promising from a wing player.
Jones is also coming off a major shoulder injury. Having played in only 20 games last season, the forward will be rusty and will need to be brought up to game condition, thus reducing his asking price.
Although the Pelicans may demand a first-round pick in exchange for Jones, the Lakers might be able to complete this trade owing to his recent run-ins with injury. Instead, there is also some scope for the Lakers to complete this deal by replacing Shake Milton with Dorian Finney-Smith in the proposed package.
Jonathan Kuminga
Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga has aspirations of seeking a bigger role on a team and eventually becoming an All-Star. In this regard, there may be no better market than the bright lights of Hollywood. Although Los Angeles hasn’t emerged as a potential trading destination for the Warriors’ young star, they could still make a run at acquiring him this offseason.
Proposed Trade Details
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Jonathan Kuminga
Golden State Warriors Receive: Dorian Finney-Smith, Gabe Vincent
Any trade involving Kuminga will be a sign-and-trade owing to the team option the Warriors have on him. Similarly, including Finney-Smith in a package will also involve a sign-and-trade since the forward declined his player-option and is now an unrestricted free agent.
Acquiring Kuminga could be quite beneficial for the Lakers. The 22-year-old displays elite potential as an offensive threat, particularly owed to his athleticism and shot creation ability. In this light, his averages of 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game don’t do him much justice.
Although he isn’t much of a defensive presence, the forward has displayed flashes of potential for becoming an elite defender. But this will be an ongoing process of developing this aspect of his game.
Kuminga’s time in the Bay Area is likely coming to an end. In the case of another breakdown in negotiations with the Warriors, the Purple and Gold could attempt to make the most of a hectic situation.
Bruce Brown
Another target within the Pelicans that the Lakers can go after is their forward, Bruce Brown. Brown, who won a championship with the Denver Nuggets, is an unrestricted free agent this offseason. While there will be an opportunity to pick him up as is, the Pelicans are likely to sign-and-trade him in any trade situation.
Proposed Trade Details
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Bruce Brown
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Rui Hachimura, Dorian Finney-Smith
Similar to the Warriors’ trade package for Kuminga, the Lakers will be required to sign-and-trade Finney-Smith. Brown’s cap hit of $34.5 million last season presents a massive figure. If used as a point of reference for his next contract, the Purple and Gold would have to part with a lot of value to acquire him.
But signing Brown might be in the Lakers’ best interests. While undersized, the forward brings a lot of energy to the floor. His ability to lock down on defense, snatch key rebounds, and unrelenting effort make him a high-value addition.
Last season, Brown recorded averages of 8.3 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. These numbers don’t represent the intangible contributions he makes during the games. While there is scope for having greater contributions on the offensive end, the 28-year-old could be worth considering as a target.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
The Minnesota Timberwolves‘ guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker has garnered some attention from the Lakers in the free agent market. After a solid run with the Wolves, though, it is unlikely that the team would let him walk away for free.
Proposed Trade Details
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: Dorian Finney-Smith, Shake Milton
The Lakers’ interest in Alexander-Walker is well-founded. The guard has displayed immense capability as a three-and-D player. Although he didn’t play in Minnesota’s starting rotation, his contributions off the bench were quite significant.
Last season, he averaged 9.4 points and 3.2 rebounds on shooting splits of 43.8% from the field and 38.1% from three-point range. His effectiveness as a three-point shooter makes him an ideal partner for Luka Doncic, who is known for finding open players on the perimeter.
Although his defensive output doesn’t show up on the stats sheet, Alexander-Walker makes significant contributions by altering shots and denying the ball.
With Finney-Smith headed out in this trade proposal, the Wolves guard becomes an ideal replacement, considering he fits the same player profile. While also considering that there is a great likelihood of him leaving Minnesota, the Lakers would do well to pick him up.
The Lakers’ Hunt For A Big Man Continues
The Purple and Gold have shown a positive approach towards developing their wing depth. Unfortunately, this hasn’t effectively omitted their need for a big man.
As things stand, the Lakers only have Trey Jemison signed and on the roster. Jaxson Hayes remains a free agent, although there is some possibility of returning on a team-friendly contract.
The Lakers’ biggest undoing in the postseason was their lack of inside presence, and while they have outlined the template for the type of player they want, the team has been very hesitant to make a move, even with their taxpayer MLE. But with a lot of time left in the offseason, the Purple and Gold can still weigh their options before making a move.
