Los Angeles Lakers They knew that their template was far from being complete just after acquiring Luka Doncic. His weakness in the pivot position was exposed as a great lack in the playoffs, as well as the lack of depth of the team. Now that they have been eliminated after a defeat by 103-96 against the Timberwolves, they will have the opportunity to correct those defects.
The problems in the Los Angeles template are very solussionable. The stars are the basis of the league, so they have already resolved the most difficult. This team I should aspire to the championship in the next seasonsbut they must succeed in the following steps.
The Lakers should look for a specific type of player who fits well with Luka and Lebron James. They need a pivot That you are able to catch passes for Alley-Oop and protect the hoop. They also need More exterior shooting to complement its two main offensive threats. They have the tools to achieve it, both in free agency and through transfers. This is what they should look for.
Lakers’ objectives in free agency
Much of the Lakers spending in free agency It will depend on LeBron. If you return with a salary similar to the current one, it is projected that the team will be above the luxury tax. That would greatly limit your expense options in free agency.
The Lakers were in a similar situation last summer. LeBron accepted a small salary reduction if that helped bring certain impact players, including James Harden, Klay Thompson o Jonas Valanciunas. I could do the same this summer.
In case I was willing to make such sacrifice, the Lakers would probably be limited to using the average level exception for contributing equipment to the luxury tax, which is around 5.7 million dollars. They could also add a higher salary through a “sign-And-trade”, but they would have to include some type of asset to achieve it.
Definitely They do not have enough to bring a first level superstar like Giannis Antetokounmpo. But there are some useful players that could arrive for that price.
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Clint Capela
Capela is no longer the player who used to be. It has lost speed and its ability to end near the hoop has decreased. That led to lost his position as a starter in Atlanta.
That could be good news for the Lakers. Capela is still a good couple ahead at 31, as a high -level substitute or low -level holder. It is still one of the best threats in Alley-Oop plays, it is an elite offensive rebounder and a very intelligent pivot in defense. The most important thing: it can reach low cost.
Brook Lopez
Lopez is 37 years old and is no longer the same as some seasons. He started in 80 games with a good Bucks team, but had problems in the playoffs due to his lack of lateral speed.
That places that as another low -level holder for the Lakers. Even so, Lopez is still an excellent hoop protector and a pivot with outer shot, with 37 % of triples last season. Just three years ago he was second in the vote to the defensive player of the year. He and LeBron could form a very solid background defense.
Steven Adams
Adams could be the most underestimated player in the league. Win regardless of where you are going. It is a large screens blocker, good pin and an excellent rebounder that does the dirty work.
Davion Mitchell
The defense at the point of attack was a weakness for the Lakers. Mitchell is one of the most annoying bases in the League. press the entire court and generate many ball deviations.
He has not played many minutes due to offensive limitations. However, last year he began to succeed his triples with more consistency, ending with 40 % between the Raptors and the Heat.
Other options in free agency: Luke Kornet, Kevon Looney, Andre Drummond, Larry Nance Jr., Jake Laravia, Luke Kennard.
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Objectives of Lakers in the Transfer Market
The objectives that Lakers can pursue in free agency are not players that change the course of the team. The best options can be achieved through the transfer market.
Austin Reaves y Dalton Knecht They are the best chips that the Lakers have to put on the table in front of other teams. They only have a first round selection to transfer, so it will be necessary to include a good player in any agreement to close.
Klay Thompson
The Mavericks are still trying to win games next season. However, reality could reach them, and they could be forced to dismantle their team in the middle of the season.
Thompson demonstrated last season that fits quite well with Luka and still retains a great shooting capacity. He succeeded 39 % of his triples with Dallas. The Lakers could offer Rui Hachimura in return, which would allow the Mavericks to rejuvenate their template eight years.
BAM adebayo
This would be the most ambitious movement that Lakers could try. They could offer Reaves, Knecht and a first round selection without protection in exchange for the talented pivot. That would allow Miami to rejuvenate his team and restart his competitive window. Adebayo hinted that great changes in the Heat are coming, after being eliminated with forcefulness in the first round of the playoffs.
Redick is a fan of the pivot: he placed him in the number 3 in his vote to the defensive player of the year in 2024 (leaving out Anthony Davis in the process). LeBron expressed his frustration for having had to play as many minutes as a center this season. Adebayo could solve that problem and, in addition, allow the Lakers to use different defensive schemes.
Losing Reaves hurts, but their skills are not as necessary as the size and versatility that Adebayo would contribute. And although Reaves is very good, Adebayo is three times there and is at its best with 27 years. This package may not be enough to specify the transfer, but it is worth exploring.
Lonzo Ball
Ball was one of the best stories in the league last season, returning after an absence of three years. It is no longer as fast as before, but it is still an extremely intelligent defender who knows when to risk. It is an excellent pin and a good triple shooter, and its salary for the next season is low: 10 million dollars.
The great unknown is his health. He could only play 35 games last year and cannot be considered a reliable option for great minutes. Even so, it could be a good alternate base.
Marcus Smart
Smart was considered a negative asset in closing the transfer market. The Grizzlies had to attach their first round of 2025 and Jake Laravia to get rid of their contract. His offensive performance had fallen so much that it was harmful to Memphis.
However, Smart turned his season in Washington, recovering his aim from triple and maintaining the intense defense for which he is known. As he said in an interview after a game: “I just wanted to continue demonstrating that I still make this shit.”
Smart would be a very low risk bet for Lakers. It will enter the last year of the contract and have a salary of 21.6 million dollars, so if it does not work, they could let it go easily. Maxi Kleber, Gabe Vincent and some minor draft capital could be enough to bring it.
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*Original article published by Stephen Noh and translated by Facundo Echaren
