The Los Angeles Lakers made a massive move to essentially swap point guards, with Russell Westbrook finally leaving town and former All-Star D’Angelo Russell coming on board. The Russell Westbrook experiment was an utter disaster, as the Lakers missed the playoffs last year because the former MVP could not mesh well with LeBron James on the court. Along with Russell, the Lakers added Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Davon Reed, and Mo Bamba, who are four talented players who provide different things.
The Lakers did lose Westbrook, Patrick Beverley, and Thomas Bryant, but there is no doubt that the team got better before the trade deadline. Luckily for Lakers Nation, the future looks even brighter despite the fact that LeBron James is 38 years old and currently dealing with an injury. The core of LeBron James and Anthony Davis are completely untouchable, but the Lakers are in a better position to go into the free agency market next year or even swap out the recently acquired players who have tremendous trade value.
Despite having two players maxing maximum money in James and Davis, the Lakers will still be able to sign or trade for other quality players. The main reason is that the salary cap will be raised next season, as $134 million for the salary cap in 2023-24 and $162 million as the tax level will break records. To understand where the Lakers stand next year, here are the players on contract without options: LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Mo Bamba, Jarred Vanderbilt, Davon Reed, and Max Christie. Malik Beasley has a team option, Rui Hachimura has a qualifying offer, and Scottie Pippen Jr has a qualifying offer as well.
That means the Lakers are able to trade anybody next season, perhaps even engaging D’Angelo Russell in a sign-and-trade deal, as the point guard will be a free agent next year. With LeBron and Davis on board and a much better roster in terms of talent and trade assets, here are the top players the Lakers can acquire this summer for the start of the 2023-24 NBA season.
Gary Trent Jr. – Free Agency
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Gary Trent Jr has a player option worth over $18 million next season and would easily be willing to sign a 3-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers instead of staying another season with the Toronto Raptors. Trent Jr can heat up from deep, and he has been on a solid run of form since last season. The sharpshooter is averaging 18.6 PPG through 50 games this season on 36.9% from the three-point line. Giving LeBron and Davis a confident shooter who has a quick release and short memory would be scary.
Trent Jr signed a 3-year, $51.8 million contract in 2021, and there are reports that he is available for a trade at the right price. Trent Jr is a career 38.4% shooter from deep, so again, he is an immediate upgrade for the Lakers as the shooting guard is trying to get back to his career average of efficiency. No doubt, Trent Jt is likely a starter in this Lakers side that features James and Davis.
Terry Rozier – Trade
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Terry Rozier has not changed his playing style at all, and teams know what to expect from a two-way combo guard that can assist, score, and defend. The guard plays hard, often using his shooting ability to score consistently, as he is posting 21.8 PPG this season as the Charlotte Hornets’ starter. A capable two-way guard, Rozier always competes on every possession and certainly wants to win despite being on a poor team right now in the Eastern Conference.
At 28 years old, the guard still has a lot left to offer and teams will want his services, and the Hornets will trade him for what the Lakers can offer, especially if there are picks involved. Rozier is shooting only 33.3% from three this season, but he can get close to his career average (37.1%) if he plays alongside James and Davis. The Lakers can never have enough shooting and defense, so Rozier is a solid option for a player making over $24 million per year until 2026, when he has a team option.
Dillon Brooks – Free Agency
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A lot of fans and media members do not like Dillion Brooks, mainly because he is ultra-competitive and is willing to do anything to gain an advantage. Brooks is known to be a “dirty” player, although the player himself will categorically deny that. Whether you like Brooks or not, there is no doubt that the player competes hard and is especially a capable defender. That is why he is a starter for the Memphis Grizzlies.
Brooks is posting 14.8 PPG, 3.3 RPG, and 2.6 APG on 39.0% FG, 31.3% 3-PT FG, and 78.8% FT. The wing player stands 6’7”, so he can defend multiple positions at a high level and also space the floor when he has a rhythm going. The Lakers will need to add a “dog” who competes hard and gets after it on defense, especially since Patrick Beverley isn’t on the team anymore.
Harrison Barnes – Free Agency
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Harrison Barnes is one of the most underrated players in the NBA right now. He was the starting forward for the Golden State Warriors that won the championship in 2015 and is one of the most consistent two-way forwards, considering he is a solid defender at 6’8” and shoots a career 37.9% from deep. This season, Barnes is averaging 14.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 1.6 APG on 37.6% from three.
The Lakers will convince Barnes to sign for them in free agency, as the player is out of a contract at the end of the 2023 season. He is currently making over $18 million this season, so signing him to a 3-year deal worth $18 million per year is not a bad investment. Barnes is only 30 years old, so he is right in his prime and can do what he does best for the Lakers as the starting small forward or power forward: run the break, space the floor, and provide defensive versatility.
Draymond Green – Free Agency
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Draymond Green is a big fan of LeBron James, as his recent comments indicate. The 4-time NBA champion has been one of the key contributors to the Golden State Warriors over the past decade and will retire as a Hall of Famer someday. Draymond, however, has worn out his welcome with the Warriors as his production has declined significantly, and the locker room incident with Jordan Poole is a very bad look.
Regardless, Green can still help players like LeBron James and Anthony Davis win a championship because he can guard at least 4 players consistently and is a tremendous playmaker. Not to mention, Draymond brings an edge that the Lakers need to reach another level in the West. Green is a free agent, and considering the Warriors have paid Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole already, he could be on his way to joining his friend and former rival, LeBron James, in Los Angeles.
DeMar DeRozan – Trade
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DeMar DeRozan is one of the most consistent mid-range shooters in the NBA and can be very impactful as long as he is surrounded by other elite players who make the game easier for him. DeMar is best suited as a second option on the perimeter, and that means he will succeed with the Los Angeles Lakers with LeBron pulling the strings. The Lakers desperately need a consistent 20 PPG scorer to diversify their offense as Davis and LeBron continue to struggle with inconsistent health.
The Los Angeles Lakers need a scorer alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and DeRozan gives them that. DeMar is not a great three-point shooter (31.8% this season), but he is a scoring upgrade over what the Lakers have. DeMar is posting 25.4 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 5.1 APG on 50.7% of the field. The only way Los Angeles can acquire DeRozan from Chicago is via trade since he is on contract for over $28 million in 2024. Anybody is available, including D’Angelo Russell in a sign-and-trade, Vanderbilt, Bamba, and the 2029 first-round pick.
Zach LaVine – Trade
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Zach LaVine is a bonafide All-Star shooting guard. LaVine has made 2 All-Star Teams already, and he is at risk of not making another one for a while if the Chicago Bulls keep up their below-average style of play. Regardless, LaVine is exactly what the Lakers need because his shooting percentages are very solid. At the same time, it might be possible that the All-Star shooting guard would want a chance to play in a massive market like Los Angeles alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
If the Los Angeles Lakers part ways with any of their players and picks, they might have a shot at bringing in the All-Star. Chicago might have lost the plot, and the Bulls would be smart to move on from LaVine to gain assets. Chicago was expected to be a massive seller in the trade market, but that did not work out, and the team is currently 26-31. Zach is shooting 37.1% from three while posting 23.9 PPG, so he can easily be the third-best player on the Lakers as the team creates a dynamic Big Three.
Bradley Beal – Trade
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Very few players can impact the Lakers better than 3-time All-Star Bradley Beal. The Wizards superstar has had an inconsistent season so far, but that is because the team is not built for success, and the player himself has only played 34 games so far. Beal is posting 22.8 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and 5.2 APG, but he can average at least 30 PPG in the right system. Looking at what Beal has done over the past few years, he is a perfect scoring option for the Lakers.
The shooting guard has averaged over 30 PPG in two seasons of his career and will likely get closer to that number again when he has a dominant playmaker beside him. For Lakers fans, their dream acquisition is Russell Westbrook’s former teammate. To somehow get the Wizards to part ways with their franchise player, the Lakers have to offer the 2029 first-round pick along with any asset Washington wants outside of James and Davis. That means young prospects like Austin Reaves, Max Christie, and Scottie Pippen Jr would have to be dangled as trade bait.
Kyrie Irving – Free Agency
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The Lakers could be looking forward to happier times since they have arguably one of the best two-way duos in the league in LeBron James and Anthony Davis. As great as Russell Westbrook has been over his career, he was not an All-Star player anymore, and the Lakers organization struggled with him at the point guard spot. No doubt, Los Angeles desperately needed Kyrie Irving to start alongside James and Davis. Kyrie, despite his drama, is a tremendous offensive player.
He is posting 27.2 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and 5.4 APG on 49.0% FG, 37.9% 3-PT FG, and 89.3% FT. Now a member of the Dallas Mavericks, the Lakers missed out on a chance to acquire Kyrie this season. But Kyrie’s comments about his future with Dallas have raised eyebrows, which means there is hope for the Lakers to unite Kyrie and LeBron together. Remember, Kyrie and LeBron proved to be devastating to the Golden State Warriors in 2016 as they defeated the sharpshooting team in 7 games. Kyrie will be a free agent next season, and if he does not want to re-sign with Dallas, he can negotiate with the Lakers.
Damian Lillard – Trade
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Damian Lillard is already a Hall of Fame talent, even if he doesn’t have an MVP or an NBA Finals appearance to his name. The man is one of the greatest Portland Trail Blazers stars ever and is one of the purest scorers in the NBA over the past few years. In terms of shot-making and offensive explosiveness, very few players compare to Lillard in NBA history. This season, at age 32, Lillard is posting 31.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, and 7.3 APG on 46.7% FG, 37.5% 3-PT FG, and 91.7% FT. Those are MVP numbers, and there is no doubt Lillard is a top-two point guard in the world right now. Imagine if Dame starts alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the Lakers’ lineup. No doubt, the Lakers would have the best Big Three in the NBA, even ahead of the Phoenix Suns.
Having seven All-Star Teams and six All-NBA Teams are solid achievements for a superstar point guard, especially if he is known for coming up big in all the biggest games. Lillard is under contract until 2026 and has a player option worth an incredible $63.2 million in 2027. With that amount of money, the Lakers will have to gut their team to acquire Lillard, but the point guard is a once-in-a-generation talent. If Portland wants to finally rebuild, acquiring the 2029 first-round pick, along with every talented young player the Lakers have, could do the trick.
Source: fadeawayworld
