NBA Rumors: Lakers’ interest in washed FA produces sickening Deja Vu

The NBA rumors are starting to slow down as the league gets closer and closer to the start of training camp but there are still several teams looking to make another addition or two. One of those teams is the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Lakers currently have 13 players on the active roster, giving the team the capability to add two more players for the 2023-24 season. The most talked-about position of need for the Lakers is a floor-spacing center as Rob Pelinka himself said that the team was actively searching for another big.

With several talented players standing out in the Summer League, it appears as if the Lake Show has its solution for the two open roster spots. But alas, the team continues to surprise its fans as the purple and gold are reportedly interested in a veteran free agent who is certainly past his prime: Rudy Gay.

NBA Rumors: Lakers interested in signing Rudy Gay

Gay was just waived by the Oklahoma City Thunder as they cut their roster from over 20 players down to 15. Los Angeles was named as one potential suitor for Gay by Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype, who reported that Golden State Warriors, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans are also interested.

Lakers fans should be hoping that Gay signs with one of the other reported suitors as it would be a step in the wrong direction for the team. Sure, the consequences with the 14th and 15th roster spot are not big but the Lakers shouldn’t settle for worse simply because he is a bigger name.

Gay is undoubtedly past his prime and it is unclear what he would even offer the Lakers. He averaged just 5.2 points and 2.9 rebounds in 14.6 minutes per game last season. His three-point shooting was atrocious, coming in at 25.4%. Chances are this isn’t going to get better in his age-37 season.

Los Angeles should have learned its lesson from two seasons ago when the team exclusively brought in veterans with the hope that the experience would pilot the team to success. That obviously was not what happened and Pelinka smartly pivoted to a younger focus since then.

There really isn’t anything for Gay to offer this team. The Lakers would be far better off signing a younger player with something to prove that can actually provide depth in the regular season (which is very important with LeBron James and Anthony Davis). At least then there is some potential the team can hang its hat on.