The Los Angeles Lakers do not have many avenues to improve the roster this summer. Los Angeles is coming off of one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history and the team is just as limited in what it can do this offseason as it was last offseason.
That is not going to stop Rob Pelinka and the front office from trying, though. The team has no choice but to try and build the best contender possible with LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the roster. It is hard to like the Lakers’ chances, but there is at least a chance, as slim as it may be.
One of the few things that the team got right last summer was Malik Monk. Monk was coming off of an injury and did not play well early in his career with the Charlotte Hornets. The Lakers brought Monk in on a minimum contract and he was a revelation, becoming the microwave scorer off the bench the Lakers needed.
The Los Angeles Lakers should try to replicate that approach in free agency.
Monk was selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, so there was at least some pedigree there with him being a recent lottery pick. While not every lottery pick works out, there is at least something inside each of these players and the Lakers could try and be the team that unlocks that something.
Los Angeles is going to have to stick to the minimum market as the only contract the team can give out is the Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception, which might very well be used on Monk. That being said, there are not many recent lottery options. Let’s dive into three that LA could be interested in bringing in.