The Los Angeles Lakers' needs on the offseason market can be divided into two clear groups: an impact center and multiple impact wings who can defend. And with the Cleveland Cavaliers having just been eliminated from the playoffs, two of their rotational wings -- Keon Ellis and Dean Wade -- are officially on everyone's radar as free agents.
With Ellis, I use the term "rotational wing" with some liberty, considering Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson didn't provide Ellis with consistent minutes once the games became more important this postseason.
After averaging 12.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per 36 minutes for the Cavs during 29 regular-season games (in 24.8 minutes per game), Ellis' playing time dropped to 7.4 minutes per game during the playoffs. He ended up averaging a next-to-nothing 1.6 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.6 steals in the 2026 postseason for a Cavs team that really looked like they could have used more of him, especially as a Jalen Brunson irritant.
Cavaliers' playoff run created some big Keon Ellis questions around the NBA
Why did Atkinson stop playing Ellis? Was it Ellis' diminished 3-point percentage in a Cavs uniform (35.5% this season, down from his career 40.7% figure)? Was it a lack of familiarity/trust with the Cavs' system, being a mid-season acquisition? Was it something else entirely? Potential suitors of Ellis' (such as the Lakers) would surely love to know if there are any red flags there.
Regardless of the reasons for his minutes decline, Ellis' stock has dropped, and he has Atkinson to thank for that (or himself, if he did something legitimately bad to plummet his value within Cleveland's locker room).
On the bright side for LA, if the Lakers stay in the Ellis hunt, they'll now be shopping for him at a discounted price compared to what his value looked like at the deadline (not that that mattered to his previous team, the Sacramento Kings, who have no idea what they're doing and gave him away for far too cheap).
Lakers should still go after Keon Ellis in free agency
I'm of the opinion that the Lakers should absolutely remain in on Ellis, especially with Marcus Smart's future with the Lakers uncertain. Ellis would be an excellent fit on a Luka Doncic-centric team. His length and athleticism allows him to guard three positions with ease (and possibly four with certain matchups), and, as aforementioned, he's proven to be a better 3-pt. shooter over his career than he showed this season.
What's more Ellis (26 years old) is in the perfect age range to pair with the 27-year-old Doncic and 27-year-old Austin Reaves. Perhaps if Ellis really worked out, the Lakers could re-commit to him for the long haul, and we'd see him develop insane chemistry with Luka and AR over a period of multiple seasons.
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