Los Angeles Lakers: Constructing the dream offseason

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 18: Head coach Frank Vogel and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers walk on the court during a timeout due to a goal being knocked out of position during action against the Portland Trail Blazers in the first half in Game 1 of Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 18, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 18: Head coach Frank Vogel and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers walk on the court during a timeout due to a goal being knocked out of position during action against the Portland Trail Blazers in the first half in Game 1 of Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 18, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers sign Evan Fournier with the mid-level exception

The mid-level exception is projected to be worth just over $9.5 million next season. Just about every team can utilize the non-taxpayers MLE, so the hope would be that whoever the Lakers want picks them over another team.

We broke down potential MLE targets for the Lakers this offseason and out of the multiple possible named available, the best option for the Lakers would be sharpshooter Evan Fournier.

Fournier brings exactly what the Los Angeles Lakers need out of a role player. This was a team that did not have any trusted shooters in the playoffs last year as KCP was ice-cold from three. Fournier is someone who has been elite at shooting threes the last several seasons as he would bring a 40% shooter to LA.

He is also an above-average defensive player as well. NBA pundits love to throw around the three and D moniker to just about every role player (I have been guilty in the past as well) but Fournier is a legitimate three and D player. He is exactly what the Lakers would need.

The MLE is probably a fair evaluation for Fournier although there could be a team that ovepays for him. Out of the teams that could offer him the MLE, the Lakers are perhaps the best fit.