The Los Angeles Lakers are in a crucial phase of free agency and need to make strategic moves to reshape their roster. So far, the team’s activity has been limited to re-signing restricted free agent Max Christie and retaining the 39-year-old LeBron James. However, they’ve lost key veterans Taurean Prince and Spencer Dinwiddie to the Milwaukee Bucks and Dallas Mavericks, respectively.
The Lakers had aimed to sign Klay Thompson, but he chose a three-year, $50 million deal with the Mavericks, where he will team up with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Additionally, their pursuit of DeMar DeRozan ended when he signed with the Sacramento Kings.
Currently, the Lakers have all 15 roster spots filled. This means that team president Rob Pelinka will need to explore trades to free up space for new additions. One potential target is Luke Kennard, a shooting guard from the Memphis Grizzlies. Kennard, who just finished a four-year, $56 million contract, is known for his exceptional shooting, making 45% of his three-point attempts last season. He averaged 11.0 points, 3.5 assists, and 2.9 rebounds per game.
However, acquiring Kennard could be challenging since Memphis is actively trying to retain him. They recently traded former lottery pick Ziaire Williams to free up salary cap space for Kennard’s potential re-signing.
The Lakers currently sit $10 million below the luxury tax line and $14 million away from the first apron, providing some financial flexibility. Nevertheless, they must act quickly to secure a sharpshooter like Kennard to strengthen their roster for the upcoming season.
