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Lakers free agency: Fred VanVleet and 4 other Klutch clients LA could sign

By Jason Reed

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 24: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors looks on against the Detroit Pistons during the first half of their basketball game at the Scotiabank Arena on March 24, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MARCH 24: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors looks on against the Detroit Pistons during the first half of their basketball game at the Scotiabank Arena on March 24, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Mark Blinch/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers may deny it but LeBron James and Klutch Sports definitely have some kind of say on the team’s roster decisions. If they didn’t then the trio of Klutch clients — Troy Brown Jr, Lonnie Walker IV and Juan Toscano-Anderson — wouldn’t have been signed last summer.

In fact, those three signings were among the first that were announced for the purple and gold, indicating that there was already some kind of connection there. That connection is through LeBron and Rich Paul. Without a doubt.

There are some Klutch Sports clients that are free agents this offseason and just like a year ago, the Lakers could put pen to paper and continue to show the influence that LeBron and Paul have on the roster decisions.

5 Klutch Sports clients the Lakers could sign this offseason:

1. Fred VanVleet

Fred VanVleet also has a player option that he has already utilized, making him a free agent this offseason. While VanVleet is coming off of a down season, he is still going to get a better pay day than he would have gotten with the Raptors next season.

VanVleet might get a contract in the $30 million range and the Lakers have the ability to create around $29 million in cap space. It might take a marginal pay cut but if VanVleet really wants to join the Lakers and team up with his Klutch peers then he can do it.

However, there would be different sacrifices that the Lakers would have to make. Most notably, there is no feasible way the team could have VanVleet and Russell on the same team. But that is probably a good thing after the Western Conference Finals.

Fred VanVleet could be a D’Angelo Russell replacement for the Lakers

It does not make sense from a money standpoint (to go way over the luxury tax) and it does not make sense from a basketball standpoint as well. Russell and VanVleet would not mesh together well in the backcourt, especially considering they are already being asked to play third fiddle behind LeBron and Anthony Davis.

If Russell is not in the cards for the future then VanVleet is an option. If Russell is coming back then there is little to no chance that VanVleet is coming to LA.

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