After picking up the team options on Stanley Johnson and Wenyen Gabriel on Wednesday, the Lakers project to have nine players on their roster heading into free agency on Thursday: LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, Austin Reaves, Talen Horton-Tucker, Johnson, Kendrick Nunn, Gabriel and second-round pick Max Christie.
The Lakers, who are over the projected luxury tax, will have the taxpayer midlevel exception (worth approximately $6.5 million) available and as many as six openings for veteran minimum contracts.
Youth, length, athleticism and shooting are priorities. Los Angeles doesn’t want to repeat the mistakes of the last offseason. The front office has been focusing on two-way wings who complement the current core of James, Davis and Westbrook, according to league sources. Most of the hypothetical scenarios for their taxpayer midlevel exception have been centered on signing a wing or two who could come in and start next to James and Davis, league sources said.
“I think guys that will really get after it defensively,” Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka said last week of the team’s free-agency plan. “I think (head coach) Darvin (Ham) is going to prioritize guys who play hard and who compete on every play and compete in the gaps. These are the types of players that we’re going to identify in free agency as well. And I do think, of course, having shooting around our three stars is going to be really important to create space.”
The Lakers know their options on the free-agent market are likely going to be limited, especially with regard to 3-and-D wings. But that isn’t going to stop them from trying to lure higher-priced free agents to take a discount with the appeal of a starting role, heavy minutes and the spotlight and exposure that comes with playing for the Lakers (with Malik Monk’s next contract potentially being an example of the bump a player gets playing in Los Angeles).
The Lakers have a strong interest in retaining Monk, but it will depend on both his market and the quality of 3-and-D wings available to Los Angeles, according to league sources. Players the Lakers will target with their full taxpayer midlevel exception include Otto Porter Jr., Nicolas Batum, Gary Harris, T.J. Warren, Caleb Martin, Cody Martin, Mo Bamba and Danuel House Jr., according to multiple league sources. Players the Lakers will be interested in for the partial midlevel exception or minimum contracts include Nemanja Bjelica, Jeremy Lamb, Jevon Carter and Juan Toscano-Anderson, according to league sources.
Here is a tiered ranking of the Lakers’ top options in free agency. Unrealistic targets include Batum, Bruce Brown Jr., P.J. Tucker, Gary Payton II, Chris Boucher, Isaiah Hartenstein, Kevon Looney, Bobby Portis, Mitchell Robinson and Donte DiVincenzo.
Forward | 29 years old | 6-foot-8 | unrestricted | 2021-22 averages: 8.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.1 steals, 37.0 3-point percentage, 58.1 true shooting percentage
Porter is good enough to be on the above list of unrealistic free-agent targets, but a recent report from The Athletic’s Anthony Slater indicates he might be available. (The most the Warriors can offer him is the taxpayer midlevel exception, which they chose not to use last season.) Looney and Payton are greater priorities for Golden State.
Porter checks every box the Lakers need from a 3-and-D wing: He’s got the size to play either forward spot, he’s a good shooter (career 39.8 percent 3-point shooter), he’s a solid rebounder, and he’s a plus defender, both individually and within a team context.
Durability is a concern. He’s also declined athletically and isn’t quite the level of defender the Lakers would like to start in their frontcourt (he’s better as a help defender than one-on-one). But the Lakers have limited options, and he’s probably the best available wing. It wouldn’t be surprising if he gets the non-taxpayer midlevel exception.
Forward | 28 years old | 6-foot-8 | unrestricted | 2021-22 averages: N/A (last played during the 2020-21 season)
Warren is arguably the biggest wild card of free agency, as he’s only played four games over the past two seasons due to a serious foot injury. When healthy, he’s easily worth $15 million-plus annually and is the best pure scorer on this list (Monk and healthy Victor Oladipo are also in consideration). In theory, he shouldn’t be available.
But with the Pacers rebuilding, Warren is of no real use for them. A starting spot with the Lakers, in which he can play a lot of minutes on one of the most visible teams in the league, could be appealing to him as he looks to rehab his free-agency value. Warren has the offensive tool kit, size, shooting (back-to-back 40-plus percent shooting seasons his past two healthy seasons) and just enough defense to not be a liability. Like Porter, durability is a concern, but he has plenty of upside.
Guard | 24 years old | 6-foot-3 | unrestricted | 2021-22 averages: 13.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 39.1 3-point percentage, 59.7 true shooting percentage
If the Lakers can’t land a two-way wing with size, like Porter or Warren, they will strongly consider re-signing Monk, assuming he’s still interested in taking a discount to stay in Los Angeles. From a talent perspective, Monk is probably at the top of the list of realistic targets for the Lakers.
The issue for both Monk and the Lakers is Los Angeles clearly needs size and defense on the perimeter more than it needs Monk’s shooting, scoring and playmaking. He very well may be better than any of the team’s current guards, and there’s an argument to be made that the Lakers should be seeking the best available talent, regardless of position, especially if it’s a young player who can grow with the franchise.
But more likely than not, Monk will sign elsewhere for a deal in the range of the non-taxpayer midlevel exception, and the Lakers will end up spending their taxpayer midlevel exception on a wing, two wings or a wing and a big.
Center | 24 years old | 7 feet | unrestricted | 2021-22 averages: 10.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, 38.1 3-point percentage, 58.2 true shooting percentage
Similar to Monk last season, Bamba would be a young reclamation project. The No. 6 pick in the 2018 draft has been relatively disappointing in his four-year career, but he made solid strides as a 3-point shooter last season and continues to improve as a rebounder and rim protector, also cutting down on his foul rate last season. His feel for the game and motor can sometimes be issues, but his incredible length makes him effective on both sides of the ball.
Bamba is the exact type of center the Lakers need alongside Davis and James. At 24, he’s a candidate for the team’s future in addition to its present. His addition would allow Davis to remain at power forward to start games, recreating the Twin Tower look that the team successfully used in 2019-20.
Wing | 26 years old | 6-foot-5 | restricted | 2021-22 averages: 9.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.0 steals, 41.3 3-point percentage, 61.1 true shooting percentage
Wing | 26 years old | 6-foot-5 | restricted | 2021-22 averages: 7.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.2 steals, 38.4 3-point percentage, 57.9 true shooting percentage
It’s splitting hairs between the Martin twins, as they’re the same size and age and have similar skill sets.
Caleb bounced back considerably as a shooter last season (he shot 24.8 percent the previous season), making the Heat look smart for nabbing him with a two-way contract. He’s a solid and energetic defender and a dynamic finisher in transition. Cody also thrives in transition and is a plus-defender. Both are above-average 3-point shooters on relatively low volume.
Miami doesn’t have Caleb’s Bird rights, so it’d have to use its midlevel exception to match an offer sheet, making him potentially more gettable. Caleb was a slightly better rebounder and played more power forward last season, so he gets the edge over Cody, who is the better playmaker and has had the better career thus far. The twins don’t have quite the size the Lakers need, but they’re scrappy and tough.
Wing | 27 years old | 6-foot-4 | unrestricted | 2021-22 averages: 11.1 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steals, 38.4 3-point percentage, 57.1 true shooting percentage
Harris fits the 3-and-D mold the Lakers covet, though he is also a bit undersized and has lost some of his athleticism after dealing with multiple injuries during his eight-year career.
His 3-point shot has fluctuated, including a three-year slump between 2018 and 2021 in which he shot just 33.7 percent (he shot 37.1 percent on 3s between 2014 and 2018), but he recovered last season, shooting 38.4 percent on more than five attempts per game. He should be able to credibly defend either wing spot, but he’s more of a shooting guard. Age, injury history and size dock him below the Martins.
Guard | 30 years old | 6-foot-4 | unrestricted | 2021-22 averages: 12.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 41.7 3-point percentage, 60.8 true shooting percentage
The two-time All-Star has only played 12 games over the past two seasons. He had several impressive moments with the Heat last season, particularly on the defensive end.
There are two important questions with Oladipo: How real is his 3-point shooting? (He shot 41.7 percent in eight regular-season games and just 27.4 percent in 15 postseason games.) He’s largely been a below-average shooter, and the Lakers can’t afford to further compromise their spacing.
And what type of role does he envision for himself next season? Depending on Westbrook’s presence, Oladipo could be the fourth option in the pecking order. Does he want to get back to his Indiana role? This might not be the situation for that. Nonetheless, he checks a lot of boxes, including as a secondary ballhandler and playmaker.
Wing | 29 years old | 6-foot-6 | unrestricted | 2021-22 averages: 6.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, 37.6 3-point percentage, 55.5 true shooting percentage
House is the first wing who isn’t likely to get over the taxpayer midlevel exception. He impressed in his 25 games with the Jazz last season, shooting 41.5 percent from 3 and offering solid multi-positional defense. His game is otherwise limited, and there are some character concerns, but he checks enough boxes.
Center | 23 years old | 6-foot-11 | restricted | 2021-22 averages: 8.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, 67.2 true shooting percentage
Claxton is one of the league’s better switching bigs, capable of switching onto perimeter players, and he would give the Lakers a versatile look defensively next to Davis. He’s a good rim protector and finisher, though his range is limited to the paint. He’s vulnerable against behemoths due to his frame (just 215 pounds). He’s also one of the worst free-throw shooters in the league, to the point that he’s a legitimate liability at the line. At just 23, he’s oozing potential with his athleticism and mobility.
Big | 34 years old | 6-foot-8 | unrestricted | 2021-22 averages: 6.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 35.4 3-point percentage, 54.8 true shooting percentage
Young would make for an interesting fit next to Davis, as he could fit into a switching scheme while also handling some of the center load in the paint. He’s a streaky, below-average 3-point shooter, which complicates spacing. But he’s versatile and skilled enough offensively — he’s a good passer and a crafty finisher with spinning floaters — that it wouldn’t cause the same spacing issues that putting a traditional big next to Davis would cause. Still, there would be some pause with Davis-Young-Westbrook lineups, limiting his overall fit.
Big| 34 years old | 6-foot-10 | unrestricted | 2021-22 averages: 6.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 36.2 3-point percentage, 57.3 true shooting percentage
Bjelica would make a lot of sense in those LeBron-led second unit lineups, in which he could space the floor as a stretch five. He’s an underrated passer, rebounder and defender. He’s not a rim protector, obviously, but he’s not targetable the way that, say, Carmelo Anthony was last season. He surprisingly held up in switches throughout the postseason.
Wing | 25 years old | 6-foot-7 | restricted | 2021-22 averages: 9.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 37.8 3-point percentage, 59.8 true shooting percentage
With the Clippers expected to sign John Wall and retain Batum, further beefing up their crowded perimeter group, Coffey should theoretically be stealable. He’s an athletic 3-and-D wing with good size and reliable ballhandling. He’s a restricted free agent, so Clippers owner Steve Ballmer can easily block him going to the Lakers — and given the recent history between the two franchises, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Ballmer match an offer sheet.
Wing | 35 years old | 6-foot-4 | unrestricted | 2021-22 averages: 5.1 points, 1.9 rebounds, 33.8 3-point percentage, 53.6 true shooting percentage
Would Matthews be interested in a Los Angeles reunion under Ham, who coached him in Milwaukee in 2019-20 and 2021-22? He was a critical defensive piece for the Bucks this postseason, defending Jayson Tatum about as well as is possible for stretches. He’s regressed as a shooter — a trend that hurt him in Los Angeles — and he is no longer an offensive threat. But as a team looking to improve its defense, the Lakers could do a lot worse.
Guard | 30 years old | 6-foot-5 | unrestricted | 2021-22 averages: 4.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 37.9 3-point percentage, 57.6 true shooting percentage
Wright is the first point guard on the list, as the Lakers don’t have a strong need for a primary ballhandler with James, Westbrook, Nunn, Reaves and Horton-Tucker on the roster. But Wright is unique insofar as he’s a big point guard (6-foot-5) who can slide up to shooting guard. He’s a solid passer, rebounder and defender who can do a bit of everything.
Guard | 31 years old | 6-foot-2 | unrestricted | 2021-22 averages: 13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.4 steals, 33.9 3-point percentage, 48.8 true shooting percentage
Rubio is still a productive starting-level point guard, but he’s coming off a left ACL tear (the second in the same knee) and will miss time during the season. His one limitation is he’s an unreliable shooter, making him a difficult fit around the Lakers’ stars. Still, he’s a good defender, he’s a solid pull-up shooter, and he’s smart. The Cavaliers were 20-14 with him in the lineup and 24-24 without him.
Forward | 34 years old | 6-foot-8 | unrestricted | 2021-22 averages: 7.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 34.7 3-point percentage, 55.1 true shooting percentage
Last season, Reaves said he has partly modeled his game after Ingles. The comparison is clear: Ingles is a rangy wing who uses his length, grit and IQ to be a plus defender. Offensively, he’s a jack-of-all-trades who can shoot, drive and pass. The obvious issue is he tore his ACL in late January.
He’ll miss some time next season and turns 35 in October. It’s not ideal, but he could be a low-risk gamble for the Lakers.
Center | 27 years old | 6-foot-11 | unrestricted | 2021-22 averages: 8.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 70.1 true shooting percentage
Center | 24 years old | 6-foot-10 | unrestricted | 2021-22 averages: 7.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 28.6 3-point percentage, 60.7 true shooting percentage
Center | 34 years old | 7 feet | unrestricted | 2021-22 averages: 9.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, 65.1 true shooting percentage
Center | 32 years old | 7 feet | unrestricted | 2021-22 averages: 6.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 63.2 true shooting percentage
Wing | 25 years old | 6-foot-6 | unrestricted | 2021-22 averages: 5.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 31.3 3-point percentage, 46.3 true shooting percentage
Guard | 25 years old | 6 feet | restricted | 2021-22 averages: 6.3 points, 2.4 assists, 37.9 3-point percentage, 54.4 true shooting percentage
Guard | 26 years old | 6-feet-1 | unrestricted | 2021-22 averages: 4.2 points, 1.5 assists, 38.8 3-point percentage, 53.1 true shooting percentage
Wing | 30 years old | 6-feet-5 | unrestricted | 2021-22 averages: 7.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 32.4 3-point percentage, 52.1 true shooting percentage
Honorable mentions: Derrick Jones Jr., Gorgui Dieng, Toscano-Anderson
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(Top photo of Mo Bamba and LeBron James: Jayne Kamin-Oncea / USA Today)