3. Give Cole Swider a standard contract
Cole Swider is currently signed to a two-way deal with the Los Angeles Lakers and he has already earned a standard NBA contract from the team. Swider was the best shooter in the Summer League and he would add even more shooting to a roster that is depleted in that regard.
Having Hield and Turner on the roster would certainly help the cause but that would not be enough. Getting at least one big body that can knock down threes at an efficient rate would make a massive difference for the Lakers. Swider can do that, as evident from his 41.1% three-point rate at Syracuse last season.
Swider can make a much bigger difference on this team than Wenyen Gabriel. Not only can he shoot, but he hustles on the defensive end and can be a positive presence in that regard as well. While he is a rookie, it is not like Swider is young and under-developed. The dude is 23 years old and turns 24 in May, after all.
The Lakers can then turn Jay Huff’s exhibit 10 deal into a two-way deal to add size if it is ever needed throughout the season.
With Swider and the other additions, the Lakers have a much more ironed-out rotation. The starting five would consist of:
- PG: Patrick Beverley
- SG: Buddy Hield
- SF: LeBron James
- PF: Anthony Davis
- C: Myles Turner
That is a starting five that can win games and has a nice blend of shooting and defense. Hield and Turner really add to the floor spacing while the Lakers can more than get by with an elite frontcourt defender in Anthony Davis and a still-great perimeter defender in Patrick Beverley.
Meanwhile, the main second unit would be the following:
- PG: Kendrick Nunn/Austin Reaves
- SG: Lonnie Walker IV/Max Christie
- SF: Stanley Johnson/Juan Toscano-Anderson/Troy Brown Jr.
- PF: Cole Swider
- C: Thomas Bryant/Damian Jones
3 Things the Lakers must do if Russell Westbrook stays on the roster
The Los Angeles Lakers improved the roster this off-season, however, the team didn't make a move that pushed the roster into clear
That is by no means perfect, but that is a much better outlook than what the Los Angeles Lakers currently have before they make any of these moves. If I was running the Lakers, that is how I would play out the rest of the offseason before training camp begins.