Los Angeles Lakers seemed to have a great offseason in the beginning. They managed to perform exceedingly well to keep the core together, as that was the goal right from the start of free agency. At the time, three crucial players were heading toward free agency. These players had become fan favorites after helping the LA side turn things around from the mid-season. Moreover, they are young and can be the potential future leaders of the team. Apparently, Rob Pelinka and the front office had planned to build future rosters around these three players.
Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura were restricted free agents. That means the LA side was ready to match any deal other teams would offer Reaves and Hachimura. On the other hand, D’Angelo Russell was an unrestricted free agent. Hence, there were more chances of letting him go for the 17-time champions. Moreover, D’Lo disappointed the Laker’s fans in the playoffs, especially in the Western Conference Finals. Despite that, the LA side made sure they stayed. However, even after the general opinion that the LA side had a great offseason, there are opinions that it might be a little overrated. Moreover, there are three possible reasons why the Lakers have made a blunder in the offseason.
Three Reasons Why The Laker’s Offseason Might Not Have Been That Good
Firstly, the Lakers could sign more top players who were available in free agency. For instance, James Harden, Kyrie Irving, Draymond Green, Brook Lopez, and so on could fit nicely with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. But they did not get any of those players. The question remains if the Lakers have a reliable starting lineup, especially for the playoffs. Secondly, the LA side has too many inexperienced players who have yet to make the team look like a championship-winning team. It will be tough for coach Darvin Ham to find a consistent rotation that he can depend on for the playoffs. The Lakers have talented youngsters but not many proven champions yet. Hence, the team’s depth is a concern, especially for the postseason.
Thirdly, the Los Angeles Lakers remained pretty much the same in the loaded Western Conference. They signed Gabe Vincent after trading Dennis Schroder, both undersized point guards. It does not make much of a difference. Both guards are not great defenders. Later, they got Cam Reddish, Taurean Prince, Jaxson Hayes, and Jalen Hood-Schifino as the other new Lakers. But none of them are enough to push the Lakers for a championship run. On the other hand, the other teams in the Western Conference got even better. The Golden State Warriors signed Chris Paul, and the Phoneix Suns acquired Bradley Beal. Moreover, the New Orleans Pelicans may get Zion Williamson in healthy shape. In fact, every team in the West got better other than the Portland Trail Blazers. Hence, the Lakers might have got the new players for good deals, but the question remains if it is enough to help them win the title next year.
Lakers Got Their Top Priorities For Good Deals This Free Agency
It is good for the Lakers because D’Angelo Russell is a quality point guard, and he can be lethal in the regular season if not in the postseason. Rui Hachimura is a solid player from the Laker’s bench. He generally does not get a place in the starting lineup. But he proved lethal coming off the bench in the 2022-23 season. Moreover, the Gonzaga product is a big man whom the Lakers can use alongside Anthony Davis.
But most importantly, the Los Angeles Lakers managed to retain Austin Reaves for four years. He has been the top priority for the Lakers in the free agency. Even the Undisputed host Skip Bayless mentioned that he has not seen a player improve so fast in a single season. Bayless believes the Lakers have a shot at the title because they retained Reaves.