2. The buyout market is nothing special and the Los Angeles Lakers are not a premier destination
There are some decent buyout options that the Los Angeles Lakers could explore this season but at the end of the day, this year’s buyout market is not filled with as much talent as years past. This year has more players who were playing pretty poorly this season that would have to completely flip it around, which is possible.
The most talented options for the Lakers are probably Dennis Schroder and Goran Dragic but they are both point guards. While that is also a need for the Lakers, there are not many two-guards or wings that are going to be on the buyout market outside of someone like DeAndre’ Bembry.
Add in the fact that the Lakers are not the top destination and the team cannot be stingy with who it brings in. If there was someone more dynamic waiting to be bought out and the Lakers were a title favorite then it would be one thing to be stingy. The Lakers are desperate and the best version of Evans is a lot better than the other options on the market.
Plus, if there are other buyout players who want to join the Lakers then the team has plenty of roster spots that they can open up to make room. It is not like the depth of the team has been good this season. The team can comfortably waive several rotation players and not really lose much.