Former NBA champions lead best free agents Lakers can still add

The Los Angeles Lakers' start to NBA free agency has been uninspiring, to put it kindly. The roster remains a long way out from being a true contender.

If the aspirations for the 2025-26 NBA season remain to put a championship-caliber team next to Luka Doncic, there is still a lot of work left to be done. The Lakers will need to find trades that will not only help them upgrade, but clear up roster spots as well.

When those openings are created, there are still names remaining on the free-agent market which can help a championship push in Los Angeles. Every position should have at least one player that can make an impact for the Lakers.

Point Guard: Malcolm Brogdon

Malcolm Brogdon is one of the free agents who is waiting on the dominos to drop in the Bradley Beal saga. That is, what Jake Fischer suggested in a recent NBA rumor mill intel drop. Once the dust has settled on that, there should be plenty of suitors for the veteran guard, including the Lakers.

Fischer wrote, "A slew of teams have registered varying levels of interest in the 32-year-old. That list includes the [Los Angeles] Clippers, [Phoenix] Suns and Lakers as well as the [Golden State] Warriors, [Minnesota] Timberwolves, [New Orleans] Pelicans, [Sacramento] Kings and [Milwaukee] Bucks."

Brogdon can add value as a player who can come in and play off-ball alongside Doncic, Austin Reaves, or LeBron James. The former Sixth Man of the Year can also be tasked with on-ball lead guard duties and command a group of backups. The fit here makes way too much sense to ignore.

Shooting Guard: De'Anthony Melton

Lakers fans have begged to add a two-way presence in De'Anthony Melton to the team for the majority of the offseason. Los Angeles has been connected to the 27-year-old, but recent reports suggest they will need to fend off the Warriors from luring away their target.

Melton suffered a torn ACL last season, ending his 2024-25 campaign. If that injury was not too damaging, his skill set brings a lot of value. The seven-year pro has shot 38.3 percent from 3-point land over the past five seasons, while playing pesky defense. Those are exactly the type of players who fit well with Doncic and James.

Small Forward: Amir Coffey

The small forward position may be the most barren out of all the spots when it comes to available free agents. Amir Coffey almost towers over the rest of the available candidates.

Coffey had a career year in 2024-25, averaging 9.7 points per game, while shooting 47.1 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from beyond the arc. The 28-year-old fits the classic 3-and-d mold, and the Lakers would benefit from having more of those players.

Power Forward: Chris Boucher

Chris Boucher told Michael Scotto in an interview leading up to free agency about his desire to land with a winning team this offseason. Boucher also wanted a steady role off the bench, unlike his last season with the Toronto Raptors. The Lakers can offer both.

Boucher would give the Lakers some solid lineup flexibility, allowing them to deploy him at either the four or as a small-ball five. His ability to stretch the floor offensively adds needed spacing for Los Angeles, and his athleticism should allow him to be impactful on the defensive end as well.

Center: Al Horford

Al Horford is still contemplating what to do next with his NBA career. Fischer has previously speculated that the Warriors are the frontrunners for his services. Shams Charania let everyone know that retirement is not off the table either.

However, in that same report from Charania, the NBA insider noted the Lakers are also another team still hovering around the former champion. Horford still proved to be impactful in the 2024-25 season. The Lakers still need a better backup option than Jaxson Hayes. This would be it.