Unlike last offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers have a lot of flexibility in the moves the team can make during the offseason. Los Angeles is no longer hampered by a massive $47.1 million salary for Russell Westbrook and can move various pieces around to best contend next season.
With all this flexibility comes several decisions that have to be made. The restricted free agency of Austin Reaves is the biggest storyline of the offseason, although it appears that it will end up favorably for LA. Fans also shouldn’t forget about Rui Hachimura’s restricted free agency or the impending decision on D’Angelo Russell.
There is also the possibility of the Lake Show making a trade to spin the contracts and assets currently on the team for other assets in the league. The 2023 offseason really is Pandora’s Box for Rob Pelinka and his front office.
There will be a lot for Lakers fans to keep up with and for that reason, we here at Lake Show Life decided to put together a live tracker that will keep you up to date with every move the Lakers make.
2023 Lakers free agents:
- D’Angelo Russell
- Dennis Schroder
- Lonnie Walker IV
- Troy Brown Jr.
- Wenyen Gabriel
- Tristan Thompson
- Austin Reaves (restricted)
- Rui Hachimura (restricted)
- Scotty Pippen Jr. (restricted, two-way)
In addition to these Lakers free agents, Malik Beasley also has a club option for the 2023-24 season. The Lakers can opt into the final year of his contract for $17.5 million or could allow him to become an unrestricted free agent.
Lakers free agency tracker:
With free agency starting on Friday, June 30, be sure to continuously check back here for updates!
Update: Lakers re-sign D’Angelo Russell
Despite D’Angelo Russell’s awful Western Conference Finals, the Lakers opted to bring the former all-star point guard back. Los Angeles is signing Russell to a two-year, $37 million contract with a player option. Not a great deal, but something the Lakers had to do (at decent value, at least).
Grade: C+
Update: Lakers sign Jaxson Hayes
After not adding a center at all on the first day of free agency, the Lakers agreed to terms on a two-year contract with Jaxson Hayes. Hayes’ numbers aren’t great but he is only 23 years old and is a recent lottery pick with potential.
Grade: B
Update: Lakers rumors finally come to fruition as Cam Reddish signs with LA
After months of rumors connecting Cam Reddish to the Lakers, the team has finally brought him to LA by way of a two-year deal. The money is not yet clear but bringing in Reddish is a savvy move that could pay off nicely.
Grade: A-
Update: Lakers re-sign Rui Hachimura
Restricted free agent Rui Hachimura had a career showing for the Lakers in the NBA Playoffs and it earned him a three-year, $51 million contract from the purple and gold. It is a bit pricey considering Hachimura hasn’t fully been consistent, but compared to other deals on Friday, it isn’t too bad.
Grade: B
Update: Lakers sign Gabe Vincent to three-year, $33 million contract
The Los Angeles Lakers agreed to sign Gabe Vincent to a three-year, $33 million contract shortly after Vincent made a run to the NBA Finals with the Miami Heat. While Vincent had good moments, there are overwhelming holes in his game that make this a bad signing.
Grade: D
Update: Lakers sign Taurean Prince to Bi-Annual exception
The first move that the Lakers made in free agency was signing recently-waived Taurean Prince using the team’s Bi-Annual Exception. At that price point, Prince is about as good as it gets as he provides a two-way wing presence to the team.
Grade: A
Update: Lakers extend qualifying offer to Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura; accept Jarred Vanderbilt’s team option
These moves were essentially guaranteed to happen but have been made official. Los Angeles extended qualifying offers to Reaves and Hachimura to officially make the duo restricted free agents. Meanwhile, the team picked up Vanderbilt’s club option for the 2023-24 season, which pays him $4.64 million.