The Los Angeles Lakers started the 2022-23 season with a shockingly poor 2-10 record. Their glaring lack of depth in their team composition played a heavy role in the early struggles.
Last season, the Lakers missed the playoffs entirely. Failing to do so two years in a row with two superstars in LeBron James and Anthony Davis at the helm was unacceptable. The team and front office knew this but remained patient in their trade discussions, especially those surrounding former league MVP Russell Westbrook.
As the trade deadline approached, the Lakers made a multitude of trades until the deadline passed. The first move brought Rui Hachimura from Washington, D.C. to the West Coast in exchange for Kendrick Nunn and a handful of second-round picks. Hachimura flourished in LA, building up their forward depth.
Later, Russell Westbrook was traded for a multi-team package including D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and Jarred Vanderbilt. Suddenly, Los Angeles’ depth and season ceiling drastically improved. They reached the Play-In Tournament and fought an uphill battle all the way to the Western Conference Finals where they lost to the eventual NBA Champions Denver Nuggets.
After their unprecedented playoff run, the Los Angeles Lakers approached offseason free agency with some questions regarding cap flexibility and player retention. The expectations for this roster in the following season was beyond the Play-In Tournament. The city’s sights were set on a return to Finals contention and extending LeBron’s championship window in his contract year with LA.
Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura entered restricted free agency, and D’Angelo Russell became an unrestricted free agent. All three players were highly valuable in the Lakers’ post-trade deadline run that saved their season. Because of that, the possibility of losing or overpaying all three free agents was a lingering threat for Los Angeles at the start of the summer.
Their offseason activity maintained and improved their club, primarily through these three key successes that could prove to serve a pivotal role in the Lakers’ Finals aspirations in the 2023-24 campaign.
Lakers success No. 1 – Re-signing Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura on team-friendly contracts
The biggest storyline for the Lakers entering free agency was undeniably the futures of Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura. Hachimura, a 25-year-old forward, had his best stretch since joining the NBA during the 2023 playoffs, shooting 48.7 percent from 3-point range on 2.4 attempts per game. The developing prospect proved to be a tremendous backup to LeBron James (and possible successor), giving the Lakers a needed boost in productivity whenever called upon.
Austin Reaves might be the surprise highlight of the year, going from an undrafted prospect a few years back to the third-best player on the team. Reaves was far from an All-Star last year as he averaged 13 points per game, but his confidence in clutch moments and unselfish attitude gave Los Angeles the edge numerous times.
Both players were restricted free agents sought after by plenty of rivals. Reaves could be offered up to $98 million on a four-year contract by other teams, though the Lakers would be able to match it. The San Antonio Spurs reportedly were almost about to offer Reaves the maximum possible but backed away in the last minute.
In the end, Reaves returned to the Lakers on a four-year, $53 million deal – the most the Lakers could offer on their own. Reaves’ willingness not to wait for another team to force Los Angeles to pay a premium showed a unique bond between Reaves and the team.
Hachimura signed earlier, agreeing to a three-year, $51 million contract.
Re-signing both players for an accumulative $104 million over four years is an outstanding move by the Lakers. Both players were high-level role players, and retaining them on low contracts gives the team maneuverability for future improvements.
Secondly, both deals kept the Lakers under the Luxury Tax, allowing them to utilize their full MLE on their next success.
Success No. 2 – Bringing Gabe Vincent to Los Angeles
Hot off a run to the NBA Finals, the Miami Heat held two coveted pieces in NBA free agency, Max Strus and Gabe Vincent. While Strus joined the Cleveland Cavaliers to help their wing production, the Lakers targeted and signed Miami’s point guard Gabe Vincent on a three-year, $33 million contract.
The 26-year-old undrafted guard joined the Heat in 2019 and gradually earned a larger role over four seasons. Vincent’s production in Miami improved steadily each season. In the recent playoff run, Vincent started in all 22 performances, averaging 12.7 points on 50.6 efficient field goal percentage and dished out 3.5 assists.
Over the past few seasons, the Lakers have had a constant rotation of point guards on the roster, from Lonzo Ball to Russell Westbrook. Dennis Schroder had two short campaigns with Los Angeles but was not re-signed this summer in favor of D’Angelo Russell and Vincent.
Though Russell inked a new deal, his future in LA is still in the air, meaning Gabe Vincent may become an instrumental piece to the Lakers’ future. Though his game is imperfect, Vincent has shown willingness to understand and play his role both on offense and defense.
Vincent is far from a defensive anchor or serious 3-point threat (33.9 percent over his career), but his fit is clear next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Acquiring a talented role player in Gabe Vincent for the full MLE secures a consistent backcourt leader for the coming years. His mix of team-centric playstyle and playoff experience will become invaluable for the club both now and in the post-Lebron era.
Finally, the Lakers signed a high-profile free agent in a surprising late-summer move.
Success No. 3 – Signing Christian Wood on a minimum deal
After playing in a diminished role with the Dallas Mavericks, stretch big Christian Wood’s value was in limbo entering free agency. Numerous stories suggested his off-court behavior was harmful to a team’s culture, and few shied away from criticizing his defense.
In the face of Wood’s doubters and flaws, the Lakers showed an early interest in bringing him to the West Coast as a frontcourt partner next to Anthony Davis. Wood signed on a two-year veteran minimum contract with a player option after the first season. Depending on his performance this season, he could leave for a bigger contract. Otherwise, he will remain in LA on an incredibly cheap contract for two years.
Last season, Christian Wood shot 37.6 percent from 3-point range on just over four attempts per game. Standing at 6-foot 10-inches, Wood remained active on the boards, grabbing 7.3 rebounds per game coming off the bench for the Mavs. The season prior, Wood snagged a career high 10.3 rebounds per contest as a starter in Houston.
While Wood’s physical build and scoring ability make him a seemingly great fit for any of the NBA’s 30 teams, he went unsigned for a long time in free agency due to his negative perception across the league and his disappointing defense.
Dallas finished the 2021-22 season with the Association’s fifth-worst defensive rating. Bringing Wood to the Mavs was under the guise that he would improve their interior defense and pairing well next to Luka Doncic on offense. Instead, Wood failed to impact the Mavericks and had a tumultuous relationship with the coaching staff.
With all the negativity surrounding Wood, his chance with the Lakers may be one of his last. The 27-year-old center battled his way from the G-League into the NBA and became a favorite among many fanbases for some time. His reputation began to diminish after a suspension for locker room behavior on the Houston Rockets. Though Wood is young and only now entering his prime, his career may be cut short if he cannot recuperate his public perception on the Lakers.
Fortunately, Los Angeles will be an ideal opportunity for him to do so. The Lakers need his skillset, and his defensive shortcomings will be minimized by Davis’ dominance. Signing Wood not only gave the Lakers another possible option off the bench. The team knows Wood will need to prove his value, meaning they could get the best version of Christian Wood on a minimum deal.
For a team with a rising price tag, signing a possible starter or sixth man on a veteran minimum could be a catalyst for success. Should Wood fail to impact the Lakers, the cost is low. This move is undeniably a win for the Lakers, regardless of Wood’s outcome as a member of the team.
This offseason was an active success for an emerging contender in a loaded Western Conference. Under GM Rob Pelinka’s guidance, the Lakers are poised for a tremendous resurgence after their loss to the Denver Nuggets.