Los Angeles Lakers: Realistic tier 3 free agents to target

In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at free agents in the Tier 3 category, and examine who is going to be the best fit, and best use of cap space for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Last time we looked at Tier 4 free agents, which consisted of players the Los Angeles Lakers could add on the fringes and were classified as low-end bench players. But moving up, Tier 3 free agents is where we start to look at actual impact players the Lakers can sign and are classified as solid starters, or high-end bench players who can start in a pinch if the need arises.

Should the Lakers strike out on the big name free agents, the salaries of players in the Tier 3 category would likely command means the Lakers can realistically only sign 2-3 of these players in lieu of a max-player.

However, one thing to note is the Laker’s cap situation, which gives the team around $35M to play with this offseason. But this money is very much a use it or lose it situation, as the Lakers will have to pay Brandon Ingram in the 2021 offseason, then Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma the offseason after that, which will essentially evaporate any cap space the team has.

Thanks to Bird Rights, the team can make their signings this year, and go over the cap to sign the young core when the time comes. But it’s now or never, so the Lakers can’t be stingy with their cap space like they have been in year’s past. So, whether they sign a max free agent or two or three role players, that money will have to be spent one way or another.

Let’s get into the list.