Lakers: 7 guards to trade for and 7 to sign in free agency this offseason

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 07: Chris Paul #3 and Dennis Schroder #17 of the Oklahoma City Thunder in action against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 07, 2020 in New York City. Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-103. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 07: Chris Paul #3 and Dennis Schroder #17 of the Oklahoma City Thunder in action against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 07, 2020 in New York City. Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-103. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

3. Joe Harris

The rest of this list, including Joe Harris, should be considered an ideal but unlikely signing for the Lakers because most teams around the league with cap space will be fighting for these guys.

Harris is well known by now as one of the best marksmen in the NBA, especially after he won the  3-point contest at All-Star weekend two seasons ago. That season he won the contest, he shot an astounding 47.4 percent from the 3-point line, and last season he did not do much worse at 42.4 percent.

It is clear that he is one of the best shooters in the league, and the Lakers are in desperate need of someone that can shoot like Harris.

There were countless times last season and during the postseason run that the Lakers failed to knock down the open 3-point opportunity and that would lead to points on the other end. The Lakers ranked 21st in the regular season and 12th in the postseason in 3-point percentage, and with the league becoming increasingly more 3-point oriented every year the Lakers need to improve in this area dramatically.

One way they could do that is by throwing a ton of money at Joe Harris, or the other two options on the list after him. It is unlikely the Nets will not try to retain him because he will be as important to their championship chances as he would be to the Lakers’.

Yet Lakers fans can still dream about a scenario where LeBron has either the option to dump it down low to AD for a basket or fling it to Harris in the corner for an open 3-point opportunity. That combination of Harris, AD, and James would not be worthy of a big three label, but that lineup would be very hard for opposing teams to try and defend.