The Lakers Road Back to Relevance Heavily Hinges on Free Agency

November 17, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) dribbles the basketball against Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes (40) during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Demar DeRozan:

Fit: Fair
Likelihood: Fair

Demar DeRozan is an extremely athletic wing for the Toronto Raptors. Although he has a player option for next season, the inflation of the cap next year means he is almost guaranteed to decline it and become an unrestricted free agent. This will allow the Lakers to leverage their large cap room to make the swing-man a lucrative offer.

DeRozan’s size and athleticism makes him fully capable of playing either the shooting-guard or small-forward spots. Small-forward is a particularly shallow spot for the Lakers, so he will have an immediate role to fill in Los Angeles. His athleticism will compliment the Lakers young core well, helping them develop into a lethal team in transition. Another positive is the fact that at 26 years old, DeRozan is still capable of growing with the core the Lakers already have in place.

There are negatives in regards to signing Demar DeRozan however. Firstly, he is a high volume shooter, something the Lakers have an excess of. Further, he might stunt the growth of the Lakers young players in their immediate development.

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He also lacks a consistent jumper, shooting a truly awful 18% from deep this season, and only 28% throughout last season. At this point in his career it is unlikely he will ever become a true threat from long range.

The Lakers will have plenty to consider when deciding whether or not to use their cap space on DeRozan, who will demand a max salary this off-season.

Although his strengths could help the Lakers immensely, the flaws in his game may be enough for the Lakers to go in a different direction.

Considering his strong Los Angeles roots, DeRozan seems the most likely of the aforementioned bunch to join the Purple and Gold.

Nicolas Batum:

Fit: Good
Likelihood: Fair

Nicolas Batum is a far less glamorous option than the other players mentioned so far, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t fit well with this team. A solid all-around wing, Batum is a good defender and shooter with deceptive athleticism. He brings a lot of positives to the table, while also not demanding the ball nearly as much as the other players on this list.

Turning 27 in December, Batum’s age doesn’t fit perfectly with the Lakers young core, but his ability to contribute without dominating the ball makes that less of an issue. Batum could help the Lakers in the present, while still allowing their young players to develop. In fact, the only downside of signing Batum is that he may be too passive. He most likely won’t make them a playoff team, and he definitely won’t provide the Lakers with a number one option, but on a rebuilding team that may be for the best.

The Lakers should have a fair chance of signing the French small-forward, as they will be able to offer him a maximum salary and a key role on the team. Although he has only recently arrived in Charlotte, they have not gone out of their way to make him feel welcome.

When discussing their acquisitions, Michael Jordan ignored Batum when asked which player was most important, instead citing the signing of mediocre ex-Laker Jeremy Lin as their most important addition. Laker fans should hope that Batum isn’t impressed by his first season with the Hornets and considers other teams.

Next: Big Man Reinforcements: Whiteside and Jefferson