Los Angeles Lakers: Greatest free-agent signings in franchise history
Over the years, the Los Angeles Lakers have made some of the most exciting moves during the free agency period. They have signed players that have helped change the balance of basketball in the entire NBA and helped bring them closer to an NBA title.
Some of the transactions may not have always made the headlines but they were always moves that helped them accomplish what they needed.
Greatest free agency signings in Los Angeles Lakers history:
10. Gary Payton and Karl Malone
Just looking at those two names above makes you think that these two coming to the Lakers should have led to a title but unfortunately, that was not the case. It was the 2003-04 season and the Lakers were just coming off a season in which they were knocked out of the playoffs the year before by the mighty San Antonio Spurs that were led by the great Tim Duncan and David Robinson as well as Tony Parker and Steve Smith.
The Lakers still had their three-peat roster in place with Shaq, Kobe, Horry, Fox, Fisher, and Brian Shaw. They were not happy as the season ended and therefore they knew they had to make some changes in order to get back to the NBA Finals. So they reached out to the Glove and the Mailman, two of the greatest players in NBA history.
Payton, of course, had spent the majority of his career with the Seattle Supersonics until he was dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks in a deal that included Ray Allen coming to Seattle. Malone of course had spent his entire career with the Utah Jazz.
Most interestingly was that the Lakers signed both players for a lot less than both were used to getting. Payton signed for the mid-level option of $4.9 million and Malone for $1.5 million. Imagine the Lakers roster after making these two moves. Kobe, Shaq, Malone, Payton, Horace Grant, and Rick Fox all being coached by the great Phil Jackson.
However, things didn’t end up working out quite the way they expected it to. Malone missed a big chunk of the season with injuries. They did make it to the NBA Finals that season but were outplayed by a scrappy Detroit Pistons team.
It still was an amazing moment in Lakers’ history though to get both Payton and Malone. They only lasted one year with the team and the following season, Malone retired and Payton signed with the Boston Celtics.