The Los Angeles Lakers‘ season ended much sooner than anyone could have expected as the Phoenix Suns knocked off the defending NBA Champions in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. The Lakers certainly had the talent to make a deep playoff run but could not get the injury luck alongside it.
Now the Lakers have a lot on their plate in the offseason. There are several impending free agents that will require roster decisions as well as the natural inclination to improve. There is one thing that is true every offseason: if you are not getting better then you are getting worse.
That will naturally lead to new faces in the purple and gold next season as several players likely just played their last game with the Lakers.
However, there are certain free agents the Los Angeles Lakers absolutely cannot afford to let walk.
Most non-superstar free agents are replaceable. The free agents that sign with other teams can be replaced, although it will take some creativity from Rob Pelinka and co. That is not the case with two free agents in particular.
When it comes to the front office’s priority list, these two players have to be at the top of the list because, quite frankly, it would be a shame if the Lakers lost either of these players.
Let’s get into the two players that absolutely have to be re-signed by the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason.