Lakers Potential Free Agent Targets
LOS ANGELES — This offseason’s batch of free agents is not as strong as its predecessors, but there is still gold out there that can help turn the Lakers' hopes into championship success next season starting this Friday at 6 p.m. ET.
The most important thing the Lakers must do this offseason is retain Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura, as they extended qualifying offers on Tuesday for both of them, allowing them to match any offer they get in free agency.
Staying young and having promise is the topic the Lakers will focus on moving forward, with LeBron James entering his 21st year in the NBA and Anthony Davis aging.
Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka emphasized that their targets in free agency were tough, defensive-minded, selfless players during the team's rookie media interviews.
Pelinka also mentioned their goal of keeping their core back together.
So let's dive into some “tough, defensive-minded, selfless players” the Lakers could target during free agency:
D’Angelo Russell
The fate of D’Angelo Russell has stirred up significant controversy regarding whether the Lakers should retain him or allow him to depart in free agency. And his performance in the Western Conference Finals against the Nuggets has everything to do with that.
Russell is still the best option the Lakers have in terms of affordability and familiarity with the team's core. Russell could get a contract worth between $20 and $25 million annually with a multi-year contract that could be three years.
There aren't many players during this free agency period who averaged 17.4 points and 6.4 assists while shooting 41.4% from deep, which is what Russell did in 17 games for the Lakers.
Russell was even more reliable in the Lakers series against the Grizzlies, with a roaring 31-point performance in their series-clinching Game 6.
Without Russell, the Lakers don't come out of their Warriors playoff series, where he had crucial performances in Games 3 and 6. With a 23-point outing in Game 3 to put the Lakers up 2-1 and a 19-point performance in Game 6 to move L.A. to the WCF.
Brook Lopez
If the money is right, Brook Lopez could be the perfect piece for the Lakers this offseason. Lopez is coming off a stellar defensive season, earning a first-team all-defensive nod and finishing in the top three in voting for Defensive Player of the Year.
At 7'0, Lopez would help out instantly by establishing a true center presence, allowing Anthony Davis to roam at the four, resembling their bubble championship roster in 2020.
In 78 games, Lopez averaged 15.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game for the Bucks.
Finishing 27th in three-point shooting last season as a team, the Lakers would benefit from Lopez’s ability to space the floor, where he shot 37.5% from three this season on 4.7 attempted threes per game.
In the first round of the playoffs, Lopez had one of his best games of the season, despite the game ending in a Bucks loss. Lopez finished with a stat line of 36 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks, and two steals in Game 4 against the Heat.
Bruce Brown
Multiple sources told the Denver Post that one team has a significant interest in signing Bruce Brown away from Denver, and that team is your the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Nuggets can only offer up to $7.8 million this year, but the Lakers could offer Brown a mid-level exception of $12.3 million annually.
Brown was a focal point in the Nuggets' strong championship run, averaging 12.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and a plus/minus of +101 throughout the playoffs.
In 80 games during the regular season, Brown averaged 11.5 points and shot 35.8% from three and 48.3% from the field.
Brown's biggest game of his career came on the biggest stage with a Game 4 explosion. Brown scored 11 of his 21 points in the 4th quarter to help give the Nuggets a 3-1 series lead.
Jevon Carter
Just like Lopez, Jevon Carter is a free-agent option for the Lakers who is familiar with Darvin Ham’s system. Carter would bring a true, reliable veteran point guard off the bench.
Carter is the ideal player the Lakers front office is targeting—a pesky defensive-minded player that plays with high intensity and can knock down the three ball.
Carter started 39 games out of 81 games played last season for the Bucks, and in that span, he averaged 8.0 points, 2.4 assists, and 2.5 rebounds while shooting 42.1% from three.
Donte DiVincenzo
On Tuesday, Donte DiVincenzo declined his 4.7 million player option with the Warriors to become an unrestricted free agent. The Lakers could be one of many suitors to retain the 26-year-old, who averaged 9.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.3 steals a game last season for Golden State.
DiVincenzo is coming off a career year shooting from three last season, where he shot 39.7% from behind the arc on 5.3 attempts per game in 72 games.
DiVincenzo is the type of player the Lakers are targeting with his high motor and infectious energy, which he can contribute immediately in Los Angeles.
Cam Reddish
If the Lakers can’t retain Hachimura, Cam Reddish could be Plan B for Los Angeles. Reddish has been linked to the Lakers for the past two seasons because of his 6'8 wing size and offensive scoring ability.
Still just 23 years old, Reddish would bring a scoring ability that can take some of the load from LeBron and Davis, with his ability to play alongside Davis in small lineup stretches.
In 40 games between the Trail Blazers and the Knicks, Reddish averaged 9.7 points, shooting 31.3% from three and 44.6% overall from the floor.
Andre Drummond
Yes, Andre Drummond could be in line to make his return to Los Angeles and continue his iconic sideline celebration.
After having a short stint of 21 games in the 2020–21 season, Drummond played for three teams the following two seasons.
Still just 29 years old, Drummond can be a serviceable backup center for the Lakers and a vet presence.
In 67 games with the Bulls, Drummond averaged 6.0 points and 6.6 rebounds on 60.6% finishing.
Yuta Watanabe
Yuta Watanabe is an interesting prospect this offseason for the Lakers. His connection with Rui Hachimura, both Japanese-born players, would be an ideal reason for his interest in Los Angeles.
Watanabe’s minutes were cut with the addition of forwards at the trade deadline from the Brooklyn Nets, resulting in him seeing fewer minutes with the Phoenix trade.
The Lakers would be bringing in a 6'8 forward who shot 44% from three last season in 58 games, averaging 5.6 points in 16 minutes per game.
Known as a notable knockdown specialist, Watanabe is an underrated defender who uses his length to deflect passes and defend on the ball efficiently, just like current Laker Jarred Vanderbilt.
Max Strus
Although Max Strus is coming off an underperforming Finals series against the Nuggets, where he shot just 18.7% from three in five games, Strus is still a reliable 6'5 floor-spacer three-point specialist who can immediately boost the Lakers' offense.
In 80 games last season for the Heat, Strus started 33 of those, where he averaged 11.5 points and shot 35% from three.
Shake Milton
With the possibility of losing Lonnie Walker IV and Troy Brown Jr. in free agency, Shake Milton can be an alternative piece that can bring a solid scorer from the bench.
Milton was a focal piece on the Philadelphia 76ers bench last season but didn't see many minutes in the playoffs, where they reached the conference semifinals.
Milton can give the Lakers a legit shooting threat from three, with a career three-point percentage of 36.5% in five seasons in Philadelphia and an average of 8.4 points in 76 games this past season.
Kyrie Irving
Yes, you heard that right, Kyrie Irving. Irving to the Lakers is still a long shot, but not impossible. TNT’s NBA Insider Chris Haynes reported that Irving intends to meet with the Phoenix Suns when the free agency period begins, and he also tried to recruit LeBron to Dallas, which shows the uncertainty of his future in Dallas.
Irving has been known to not keep his promises. In Boston, months before his free agency, he announced to the Celtics fans that he was re-signing with them the following offseason, which ended up not happening. In Brooklyn, his hometown team turned out to be a disaster, resulting in him going to the Mavs.
Although it’s reported that a deal is done and ready for Irving to sign with the Mavs when the free agency market opens, it is not entirely out of the realm of possibility.
