The Los Angeles Lakers hope to take a big swing in free agency this summer, but to fill out a championship roster around a core of stars they need to hit on low-cost, high-upside signings and trades as well. One such player who could prove to be an ideal fit is German forward Isaac Bonga.
Bonga is one of the top players competing in Europe and could make an NBA return similar to players such as Dante Exum and Guerschon Yabusele in recent years. And if the Lakers were to sign him, it would result in a full-circle journey for Bonga -- and in one small way, undo the original Anthony Davis trade where Los Angeles sent Bonga away in the first place.
The Lakers traded Isaac Bonga away
The Lakers drafted Bonga with the 39th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft after he put himself on the map with his play in Germany. He played a modest role as a rookie, appearing in 22 games and scoring only 19 points in total.
The following summer, the Lakers negotiated a trade for the top player on the market, New Orleans Pelicans big man Anthony Davis. To match his salary, the Lakers had to stack up a large number of smaller contracts, too many for New Orleans to take on themselves. That’s where the Washington Wizards were roped in, and Bonga landed in the nation’s capital.
He played an outsized role in his first year in Washington, starting 49 times and playing 66 games in total for a bad Wizards squad. His efficiency improved but his role did not, and he averaged a tiny five points and 3.4 rebounds per game. His playing time declined in year three, and after a handful of games in Toronto didn't reveal the beginnings of a breakout, he washed out of the league.
Bonga then returned to Germany, this time signing as a prominent player for Bundesliga powerhouse Bayern Munich. He never became a prolific scoring threat, but he filled in everywhere else as a play finisher, rebounder and defender. He did the same for the German National Team, playing a key role for the gold cup team at the 2023 World Cup and the fourth-place team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
European power Partizan signed Bonga in the summer of 2024 and he yet again played a key role on a championship team, with Partizan winning both the Serbian League and the ABA League last season.
Isaac Bonga could return to the NBA
Bonga has caught the eye of NBA teams, starring for Partizan, and it was reported recently that multiple teams reached out to inquire about his buyout with interest in signing him for the stretch run of the season. Partizan refused to negotiate his buyout down, but it’s a signal that teams could come calling again this summer.
The Lakers have struggled to find reliable frontcourt players in recent years, especially since trading Davis away, and Bonga would be a low-cost swing at filling that need. The Lakers don't need more on-ball players, but they rather need high-energy role players to fill in around their stars. Bonga can do exactly that.
Reunions are a part of the NBA, and the Lakers have been a part of many. This one would be a slow cast of the boomerang, and could stoke the fires of nostalgia while also securing the perfect piece to build out their rotation around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.