Even as the Los Angeles Lakers are rising quickly in the rankings this year, its front staff is organising possible offseason additions.
The Lakers are anticipated to be looking for a “difference-making perimeter talent” this summer in the trade market, according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe.
With additional assets available for trade this summer, the Lakers may really have a chance to realise that goal.
General manager Rob Pelinka felt that none of the options would significantly improve the Lakers, which is one of the reasons he decided to hold off until the trade deadline. However, he still believes that the Lakers have a chance to acquire a star player in the offseason when they will have three first-round picks to trade.
Of course, LeBron James’s potential absence from the Lakers next season is another issue. This offseason, he has the option to forego his $51.4 million salary for 2024–25 and become a free agency.
James joined with Los Angeles as a free agent in the summer of 2018, and it still looks doubtful that he will leave despite the fact that the team’s performance during the previous five years did not suggest it was in a position to justify his services.
However, the Lakers are uneasy since there have been enough rumours that James would be interested in playing for other teams or that other clubs might be interested in signing him. James is partially to blame for some of those rumblings, as evidenced by his outright flirtation with the New York Knicks during a Madison Square Garden game.
Regarding players who might meet the Lakers’ need for a “difference-making” perimeter player, Jovan Buha of The Athletic has reported that Trae Young is probably their top choice to contend for a championship as early as the upcoming campaign and assist in laying the groundwork for Young and Anthony Davis to become the team’s next great tandem after James leaves.
