3 Free agents Lakers must prioritize after missing out on Gary Trent Jr.
The Los Angeles Lakers had a golden opportunity to rediscover the magic they created with Malik Monk in 2021-22. Much as Monk's market value unexpectedly torpedoed in 2021, thus opening the door for Los Angeles to sign him at a bargain cost, the same transpired with Gary Trent Jr. in 2024.
Unfortunately, Trent has signed with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Lakers are now preparing for the third week of free agency without a single new signing to show for their efforts.
Trent would've been a remarkable value grab for Los Angeles as a 3-and-D wing who has multiple 40-point games under his belt. What's done is done, however, and the Lakers must now look to the future of their free agency endeavors.
The market has thinned, of course, but opportunities still exist for general manager Rob Pelinka to make a splash with a veteran's minimum or taxpayer mid-level exception contract.
That all begins with the best remaining big man on the open market.
Precious Achiuwa, UFA
One of the most surprising names still floating around the free agency market is former New York Knicks big man Precious Achiuwa. The 24-year-old became an unrestricted free agent when the Knicks declined the option to extend a qualifying offer, but has thus far remained unsigned.
Ian Begley of SNY reports that Achiuwa has received offers from several contenders, and the Lakers would be wise to make themselves known in those discussions.
Achiuwa is a 6'8" and 243-pound power forward with a 7'1" wingspan that enables him to spend time at the 5. He's struggled to find a consistent role during his four NBA seasons, but began to show flashes of immediate value once he was traded to the Knicks.
In 49 games in New York, Achiuwa averaged 7.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.9 offensive boards, 1.1 assists, and 1.1 blocks in 24.2 minutes per game, shooting 52.5 percent from the field.
Beyond the numbers, Achiuwa brings energy to the court that could be refined to the point of making him a starting-caliber player. That combination of length and energy permits intriguing defensive upside, and has already made him a tremendous offensive rebounder—an intriguing fact considering the Lakers ranked dead last in offensive rebounding in 2023-24.
It's possible that Achiuwa will receive a more lucrative offer from a different team, but it doesn't hurt to reach out and test the waters.