The Los Angeles Lakers will always be a factor in free agency and this offseason is no different. LeBron James is currently a free agent while D’Angelo Russell opted into the final year of his deal for 18.6 million dollars.
This team, as currently constructed, is not a contender in the Western Conference next season. It is rumored that Klay Thompson is currently the top target and LeBron James would be willing to take a pay cut to make it happen. There’s just on question:
Is Klay Thompson enough?
Klay is a shell of who he was in his prime. He has lost a step defensively and shot a career worst percentage from three in any season in which he played more than 50 games (38.7%). His defensive rating last season was also a career low at 118. In fact, in seasons in which he has played more than 50 games, Klay has not been a positive +/- player since the 2016-2017 season.
Klay has taken at least nine threes per game each of the last three seasons. D’Angelo Russell led the Lakers in attempts last season with 7.2, no one else on the team shot more than 5.1 per game. Klay’s volume and ability to spread the floor is theoretical match made in heaven next to LeBron James but his shooting percentage would have been sixth best on the Lakers last season.
Klay’s playoff experience and shooting alone make him an ideal pick up for Rob Pelinka this offseason, but there will need to be some creativity to improve this roster even more.
D’Angelo Russell opting in makes him a prime candidate for a trade. While he shot the ball well at times last season, he is not the type of point guard LeBron needs next to him to win a championship. The Lakers should look into a sign-and-trade with the Washington Wizards and swap D’Angelo Russell and Tyus Jones. Signing Kyle Lowry to a veteran minimum is worth a shot for depth.
Rui Hachimura is another candidate to be moved due to his tradeable contract of 2 years and $25.2 million remaining. The Lakers can always play LeBron at the four next to Anthony Davis or give Jarred Vanderbilt another go at it.
DeMar DeRozan is another name to keep tabs on in regard to a sign-and-trade candidate for the Lakers, if the Clippers don’t pursue him to fill the void left by Paul George. DeRozan has been mentioned in recent years as a player looking to come back home and play in Los Angeles, but he is likely not looking to take a massive pay cut to do so.
If LA could replace Russell, Rui, Taurean Prince and Spencer Dinwiddie with Tyus Jones, Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, Klay Thompson and a veteran minimum eligible back up big man, then they might be in the conversation with Minnesota and Denver for best team in the West.
While it is an unlikely haul for Pelinka to bring in, the point is that Klay Thompson cannot be the only move for the Lakers this offseason.
