The Los Angeles Lakers managed to accomplish a lot during the last few hours. They brought in Walker Kessler on a sign-and-trade. They brought in a flurry of supporting pieces right after with the additions of Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, and Sandro Mamukelashvili. Job's not finished.
Rob Pelinka should keep those famous words from Kobe Bryant in mind as the next few days of free agency unfold. The Lakers did a lot to put down the foundation for the Luka Doncic era. However, there is still one clear need that is staring everyone in the face.
The Lakers must find a trade to go out and get a starting forward beside Walker Kessler in the frontcourt. As things stand, Mamukelashvili would project to fill that spot in the starting five. Mamu is a good player, but he would be better suited to coming off the bench for Los Angeles.
Bringing back Rui Hachimura may be too tall of a task at this point. Bobby Marks explained that for the Lakers' transaction to go through on July 6, Los Angeles needs to renounce the rights to everyone but Austin Reaves. That means Pelinka will need to find a trade avenue somewhere to fill that need.
Cameron Johnson might be the best bet for Lakers to fill the forward void
The Denver Nuggets have been looking to shed salary for Peyton Watson's deal for quite some time. In connection to that, Cameron Johnson and Christian Braun have been regularly discussed in rumor mills as available and there for the taking.
That might be the Lakers' best bet to get a quality starting option at the four. Johnson did not have a tremendous year with the Nuggets in 2025-26, but there is still reason to believe a turnaround could be possible next to Doncic in Los Angeles.
Johnson has always been a steady shooter. The veteran forward shot 43.0 percent from beyond the arc this past season. There were struggles on the defensive end for him, but to think he is a lost cause would be foolish.
The Lakers would probably need to get a third team involved here to make this one happen. The financial flexibility they once had is quickly fading.
However, they are still armed with tradeable contracts and decent players for the market. The Lakers would be wasting opportunities by not pushing the envelope further and seeing who was out there that could start at the four for them next season.
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