Los Angeles Lakers: 5 must-sign free agents after Russell Westbrook trade

By Jason Reed | Jul 30, 2021

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 03: Russell Westbrook #4 of the Washington Wizards dribbles against the Indiana Pacers during the first half at Capital One Arena on May 03, 2021 in Washington, DC. 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 Will Newton/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2. Trevor Ariza

The Los Angeles Lakers need to add wings to the team after trading both Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The Lakers could re-sign Alex Caruso and Talen Horton-Tucker to provide wing minutes but they still need someone who can offer size at the position.

Enter Trevor Ariza, who is going to be another veteran minimum guy that would be a great fit on the Los Angeles Lakers. Ariza won his only championship with the Lakers a decade ago and he has re-joined a team for a second stint before (Houston Rockets) so this is not out of the realm of possibility.

Plus, Ariza is a former client of Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka, which helps bridge that gap and gets the conversation going on potentially coming to LA.

Ariza is not an elite three-point shooter by any means but he can definitely hold his own and have big nights from beyond the arc. More importantly, Ariza offers size and a decent defensive presence as a wing.

He is no longer the wing defender that he used to be but he is still a serviceable defensive player. The Lakers lost one of their better defensive players in KCP and if Caruso does not return then they really have some things to figure out defensively.

This is a team that prides itself on defense and for that reason, it is going to look for free agents that can do more than just shoot but defend as well.

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