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3 Lakers players with the most unclear futures in LA

By Jason Reed

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MARCH 14: Malik Beasley #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after scoring a three point basket during the first quarter of an NBA game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on March 14, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MARCH 14: Malik Beasley #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after scoring a three point basket during the first quarter of an NBA game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on March 14, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers made it a point to not only improve at the trade deadline but get younger in the process. The result was a roster that not only made the team better this season but set LA up for more success after the 2022-23 season.

While there seems to be a foundational young core in place, there are still some members of this new-look roster that have extremely unclear futures with the team. And no, we are not talking about the end-of-the-roster guys like Davon Reed that don’t make a difference.

These are players that are genuinely hard to forecast as the team could go several directions with them this offseason.

3 Lakers players with the most unclear futures in LA:

Mo Bamba Lakers
(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) – Mo Bamba Lakers /

3. Mo Bamba

The Los Angeles Lakers traded Patrick Beverley and a second-round pick to the Orlando Magic to pick up their discount version of Myles Turner, Mo Bamba. On paper, this was an excellent pick up by the Lakers as it gave the team the flexibility it needed at the center position.

However, Bamba suffered an ankle injury and might miss the rest of the season as a result. This makes his future in Los Angeles very murky as the Lakers did not get a sample size to judge how he fits with this roster.

Bamba has a non-guaranteed cap hit of $10.3 million next season. That is a bit pricey for a center so the Lakers could simply opt out of the deal and try to bring him in for cheaper. Or, the team could opt into the contract potentially looking to use it as filler for a trade.

Regardless, there are multiple paths the Lakers could go with Bamba and the fact that he missed time with injury only makes the situation murkier.

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