After rebuilding the roster and making it to the Western Conference Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers made it a priority to bring back last season’s core. That is exactly what the Lakers did, adding several savvy improvements to the mix as well to create a roster that is even better than a season ago.
Los Angeles made a flurry of moves at the start of NBA free agency but the transaction log has slowed down a lot since then. The Lakers’ roster has stalled at 13 players and has been that way for several weeks as the team weighs its option.
The next signing will likely be a center and there are various avenues for the team to explore. Some fans are starting to get impatient, though, and are wondering when the Lakers are actually going to make this signing.
The answer has been right in front of fans’ eyes the entire time. All we need to do is look back at last summer to pinpoint when the team is going to make this lauded 14th signing.
Lakers will make their next signing in mid-to-late September
Faced with a similar situation last offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers stayed patient and let the offseason pan out. As a result, the team was able to analyze the 2022 EuroBasket Tournament and come away with the conclusion that Dennis Schroder should be brought back after his strong showing.
And that is exactly what the Lakers did, signing Schroder to a one-year deal on September 16. The team may be taking a similar approach this year with the FIBA World Cup. The World Cup ends on September 10, lining it up perfectly for a similar timeline as last year.
Schroder is not the only move that the Lakers have made in mid-to-late September. Two years ago, the Lakers converted Austin Reaves’ contract to a standard one in late September. Instead of getting external help, the Lakers realized they had something special in Reaves and went in that direction.
Los Angeles finds itself in a similar situation as the previous two years. The team has two solid young players on two-way deals (D’Moi Hodge and Colin Castleton) that it can convert to a standard contract like with Reaves. However, the team also has the time to see how the World Cup goes and also see what players end up getting waived from teams with more than 15 players.
Simply put, the Lakers have absolutely no reason to rush into a signing. Rob Pelinka and the front office will take its time and that should lead to a move in mid-to-late September.