Since the Kevin Durant trade request news broke the Los Angeles Lakers have remained quiet in free agency and the offseason trade market. The team has made only small moves that can easily be undone or ignored if the franchise decides to go in another direction.
There are the looming questions of Russell Westbrook and Kyrie Irving keeping the team standing still unable to make an impact move or trade. There is no question they have to make such a move if they hope to return to playoff relevance next season.
Westbrook was a trainwreck his first season with the Lakers and Davis cannot stay healthy for any long period of time. Neither player has given the team a reason to believe either of these things are going to change meaning a blockbuster move has to be on the horizon or it will be another long season for our Lakers.
While they wait, however, there are moves to be made in free agency that would help take pressure off LeBron and improve the lack of depth the team has suffered from over the past two seasons.
There are several free agents the Los Angeles Lakers could still pursue.
Despite the fact all of the household names are off the free agent market there are four players, in particular, the Lakers could consider if they want to make a move while waiting on the Kyrie and Durant dominoes to fall.
1. Tristan Thompson
Tristan Thompson is one of the more surprising names still in free agency and one that many Lakers fans will be familiar with. Thompson was a huge part of the LeBron James-led Cleveland team that won a championship against the Warriors. Thompson has seen his role diminish since that time but he is still a productive bench player and would be a valuable addition for the Lakers.
One of their many issues last year down the stretch was their lack of size on the floor combined with a lack of shooting hardly a winning combination. While Tristan might not be a knockdown shooter he has good hands around the basket and is at his best when his focus is simply to chase the ball and protect the rim.
While he wouldn’t be a high minutes player he is a contributor that James is familiar with and could play valuable minutes off the bench.
The Lakers already added Thomas Bryant this offseason but with AD consistently dealing with injuries could sign another big for depth. Thompson is the best remaining option on the market and would be a valuable pickup for a team looking for cheap contributors.
2. Dennis Schroder
Dennis Schroder made a huge mistake turning down the Lakers’ offer a year ago and has struggled to find the same success since leaving the team. Many fans forget just how valuable Dennis was for long stretches during his time with the Lakers. He improved his defense and was a great threat to get to the rim or create a shot anytime he had his hands on the ball.
This is the exact skillset the Lakers need with the roster as currently constructed. He is a more reliable shooter than Westbrook and arguably a better ball handler when you look at the turnovers Russ created last season.
This isn’t to say Dennis has ever been close to the player Russ has been throughout his career. Only to point out that the Lakers should consider signing Dennis who is a far better fit for the team at this point in his career.
Even if the team insists on keeping Westbrook, Dennis could be a valuable contributor off the bench giving the team a scorer they lacked last season. Outside of Carmelo, it was difficult to find anyone on the Laker bench capable of creating a shot. Dennis can do just that for stretches and give the team a scoring boost when they rest their stars just as he did during his first stint with the team.
3. Jeremy Lamb
Jeremy Lamb is a no-risk option for a Lakers team attempting to find offense off their bench. Lamb has bounced around the league with varying levels of success putting together great shooting streaks only to go cold and find his minutes slowly dwindling. Lamb hasn’t yet lived up to his potential and that is unlikely to change with the Lakers in all honesty.
But the Lakers’ options for finding offense are severely limited and Lamb will play the role he is given without making waves getting open shots and hustling on the defensive end. Lamb is a wildcard option the team can easily move on from if he proves himself unable to contribute.
LeBron James-led teams have a long history of elevating players like Lamb who have been unable to find consistent success plugging them into roles they haven’t had in seasons past. Part of this is due to the greatness of LeBron and partly due to the fact the teams (like the Lakers) have had to be creative in giving guys chances due to limited cap space.
The 2020 championship Lakers are an example of this with players serving a huge role in winning a title and now struggling elsewhere in the league. Lamb might not be a headline signing but he is a risk-free one that might just prove himself to be an asset to a team desperate to find options offensively.
4. Carmelo Anthony
If Carmelo Anthony wants to take another shot at winning a ring alongside LeBron the team should bring back one of the few fits from last season. Carmelo was part of the problem on defense unable to move his feet as he once was.
However, he was often the Lakers’ best shooter and the sole offensive threat coming off the bench. If the Lakers surround him with defensive pieces and limit his minutes he will still be an asset for the team.
Anthony joined the Lakers in an attempt to win an elusive ring and was rewarded with the worst season the team has suffered since LeBron James joined the team. While his first season with the team would be entered into the discussion the Lakers still had a young core that season and were enjoyable to watch because of it despite the lack of wins.
Carmelo should run it back with the Lakers in one last attempt to get a ring. This team is already better equipped to defend around him and allow him to continue to create offensively. He is the best shooter left on the market and despite the mess last season is a player the Lakers shouldn’t hesitate to bring back.