Revised Lakers’ roster prediction: LA finally trades for rumored target
After the 2023 NBA trade deadline, it appeared as though the Lakers front office had absolutely knocked the roster renovation out of the park. It did not take long for the new-look Lakers to gel, as their chemistry was on vivid display right from the jump. Surely after such a renaissance, the execs upstairs are planning to run things back, right?
Not so fast. While that may have been the case a few months back, everything in life is subject to change. Malik Beasley, one of the team’s most prized deadline acquisitions, performed so poorly in purple and gold that he was completely out of the rotation by the end of the regular season.
D’Angelo Russell went MIA throughout the Western Conference Finals. Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves erupted in the opening game of the postseason and looked more like vets than inexperienced youngsters under the bright lights. Their lists of suitors have undoubtedly soared, translating to a heftier price tag to retain the services of R and R.
Now that the season is officially over, the front office has some tough strings to pull over the course of the next few months in order to put together a legitimate title contender for next season. We have had a (small) sample of what the post-deadline Lakers can do, and splitting them up before they have a full offseason to continue growing could produce an unsettling opportunity cost. The current roster has its flaws, but they have already evidenced a compatible spirit on both ends of the court.
So, will the roster look similar heading into next season? Let’s hop back into the analysis lab to determine how things could look now that we have had a chance to let the dust settle.
PREDICTED LAKERS STARTERS
PG | D’Angelo Russell | 23-24 Salary: $22.5 million | Opening Night Age: 27
Q: Can the Lakers count on him when it matters most?
A: There is no denying that D’Lo lost a considerable amount of trust amongst Laker fans due to his performance (or lack thereof) against Denver in the Western Conference Finals. He turned in one of the all-time lackluster performances for a “star” in a playoff series. And while we may never be able to forget about how miserably he played against the Nuggets, we should be able to forgive him due to everything he did leading up to that point.
By no means was he great in the other rounds, but he had his moments when the team would not have come out victorious were it not for him. He is a microwave offensive weapon that can go off without a moment’s notice and seems to have become a catalyst in the locker room and on the court. It truly looks like he has grown up since his first stint with the Lakers. He may not get the full amount of funds he is seeking due to his showing against Denver, but should still receive a solid payday.
SG | Austin Reaves | 23-24 Salary: $12.5 million | Opening Night Age: 24
Q: What is his ceiling?
A: On paper, the man that was just written about is the third-best overall player on the Lakers roster. In reality, the man that is currently being written about is the third-best overall player on the Lakers roster.
And honestly, at this point, it might not even be close anymore.
Reaves obliterated expectations throughout the regular season (especially after the All-Star break, maybe he took not being invited to the Rising Stars challenge personally) and then set fire to them in the postseason. He had previously exemplified the type of IQ and on-court qualities of an All-Star role player, but clearly, there was much more than meets the eye.
The dog in him appears to have been unleashed, and he appears to be the starting shooting guard of the future for this franchise. He will 102939948592% receive offers from competitors, but it looks like the Lakers are dead set on keeping him in town.
SF | LeBron James | 23-24 Salary: $53.3 million | Opening Night Age: 38
Q: Have we seen the last of LeBron with the Lakers?
A: Almost immediately after being eliminated from the playoffs, reports were leaked of LeBron’s unforeseen consideration to retire from the game of basketball. If he were to retire, he would forfeit his entire 2023-2024 salary (which is probably pocket change to him) and would need to sit out an entire season before coming out of retirement. With Bronny preparing for his freshman season at USC this year and potentially entering the draft afterward, the timing is aligned for the two to team up before LeBron officially hangs up the sneakers.
Will it happen? Time will tell, but for now, we will plan on him being back next season. But if there is one thing we know about LeBron, it is that whatever he says to the media has subliminal meaning, so something may very well be brewing beneath the surface. It will be interesting to see how things play out.
PF | Jarred Vanderbilt | 23-24 Salary: $4.7 million | Opening Night Age: 23
Q: Will he be back in the starting 5 next season?
A: Vando gave the Lakers exactly what they needed from him after the trade deadline. He has never been known for his jump shot, but his energy, effort, and ability to defend literally anyone made him a crucial addition to the squad.
His salary is non-guaranteed for the 2023-2024 campaign, and the front office could simply waive him prior to the start of free agency if they choose. However, retaining his pesky services on D for under $5 million is like scoring a set of designer gloves from the clearance section. This one should be the easiest of the offseason decisions for Rob Pelinka.
C | Anthony Davis | 23-24 Salary: $40.6 million | Opening Night Age: 30
Q: Is he ready to 100% hold the torch?
A: AD was nothing short of a monster this season, arguably his best one to date. The injury bug is a serious cause for concern, but when he is healthy he is the only other big in the league on the same level as Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, and Giannis.
With LeBron’s decline very apparent, this is no longer a 2 man leadership panel. This franchise is now sailing fully behind the guidance of Davis, and it is up to him (and the front office) to lead the charge back to where the Lakers should be.