6 Conference Finals players Lakers should pursue from least to most likely

1. Jalen Smith, Indiana Pacers

If you're sensing a theme here, I can understand why. The Indiana Pacers are loaded at the power forward position, with Pascal Siakam leading a group that also includes productive backups in Obi Toppin and Jalen Smith.

Smith has fallen out of favor in the rotation as Siakam plays a vast majority of the minutes and Toppin fills the backup role behind him, but the Los Angeles Lakers should still be scouting him every chance they get.

Smith, 24, has a player option for the 2024-25 regular season at $5,417,386. Given the fact that he's effectively dropped out of the rotation, however, it's entirely possible that he will decline that option and instead become an unrestricted free agent.

If that happens, the Lakers would have the opportunity to bring Smith to Los Angeles on a one-year deal that would give him a chance to do some damage control on a major-market contender.

In terms of what he brings to the table, Smith is coming off of a season in which he converted 61 three-point field goals on 42.4 percent shooting from beyond the arc. He's listed at a thin 215 pounds, but he's shown a willingness to get physical in the paint.

Throw in a 7'2.25" wingspan, and Smith has all of the tools to be a strong contributor to a veteran team that can take him under its wing.

The Lakers certainly fit the bill.