Currently, the Los Angeles Lakers are busy chalking out their offseason plans. They already have two big names on their roster – LeBron James and Anthony Davis, who cover a lot of their cap space. That’s why the LA team doesn’t have more than $30 million remaining in their cap space. Since they are not thinking about trading the two big players anytime soon, they have to find a suitable trade option.
Vividly, the Lakers need to maintain balance in their roster. Balance is vital for every team. But the LA side knows how much a poor start to a season hurts. And hence, they cannot afford to have such a start again and are in desperate need of balance. But to get the right players with their short cap space, they must trade valuable assets. Therefore, the question arises; should the Lakers trade Malik Beasley in the offseason? Surprisingly, an NBA expert suggests that the Lakers must keep Beasley because he is too valuable.
Will Rob Pelinka And Co. Extend Malik Beasley’s Contract?
Last season, the Lakers planned a package they would like to offer to get a couple of All-Star-level players. Their package included Malik Beasley, Mo Bamba, and the overall 17th pick in 2023. Beasley came to LA from Utah in February after playing a strong season for the Utah Jazz. But his playing time on the court was decreasing as soon as he joined the Lakers. Hence, Beasley could not contribute as much as he would have liked to. However, HoopsHype’s Yossi Gozlan suggests the Lakers should not trade Malik Beasley. He had an average of 11.1 points, along with 3.3 rebounds per game for the brief time he could spend time on the court as a Laker.
He even struggled with his shooting for his new franchise. But Gozlan feels that “Beasley’s salary of 16.5 million dollars would be beneficial for the Lakers to match salaries in future trades.” Moreover, the ex-Jazz player is a good prospect during the regular season. Hence, the Lakers should think twice before they actually trade Malik Beasley. Moreover, the LA side will need players who shoot well, especially in the regular season. If Beasley finds form back again, he can be lethal for the Lakers.
Lakers Bought Three More Players To Strengthen The Roster
Currently, the team is signing as many players as possible on their meager budget. The Lakers have recently signed D’Moi Hodge of Missouri and two former Florida players, Colin Castleton, the big man, and Alex Fudge, a forward. According to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times, they have signed a two-way contract with Hodge. This player from the British Virgin Islands is a former DPOY in Horizon League. Hodge had an average of 14.7 points and 3.9 rebounds, along with 2.6 steals and 1.6 assists. He averaged seven three-pointers per game last season for the Tigers.
Due to the lack of equilibrium, the LA side had an abysmal start to the 2022-23 season. However, the front office made some successful trades that helped the team get balance. In the end, the LA franchise made the postseason after a miraculous turnaround. Later, the LA side even reached the Western Conference Finals.