A new report links the Los Angeles Lakers to seven different players as offseason targets, including a player who had one of the worst contracts in the history of NBA free agency, and one of the top stars in the game right now.
The LA Lakers are in the thick of the playoff race in the Western Conference and are just a couple of games out from having the fourth-best record in the NBA. Suffice it to say, they are still aiming for a deep run in the postseason this spring. However, that doesn’t mean the front office doesn’t also have an eye on the offseason.
After making the blockbuster trade for Luka Doncic last year, the organization has taken a surprisingly conservative approach. They have been unwilling to give up future first-round picks in a trade, and they don’t want to add any major contracts to their payroll, so they can keep salary cap flexibility heading into the summer.
But they are expected to be far more active to improve the roster around Doncic in the offseason. And according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Milwaukee Bucks icon Giannis Antetokounmpo will be on their wish list.
“The Lakers obviously see the appeal in Antetokounmpo and believe they would be one of the teams on a very short list if the Bucks star asks for a trade out of Milwaukee,” McMenamin reports. “A Western Conference executive told ESPN he believes Antetokounmpo is the ‘big prize’ the Lakers hope to land, should the Milwaukee Bucks decide to trade the 2021 NBA Finals MVP in the offseason.”
LA Lakers could target Quentin Grimes, Tobias Harris this summer
While the LA Lakers will look to pair up two of the top 10 best players in the league next season — Doncic and Antetokounmpo — completing a trade for the Greek legend won’t be easy because they will be competing with at least a half dozen other teams in the trade sweepstakes.
That is why there will be other players on the LA Lakers radar this summer. According to McMenamin, there have already been internal discussions about pursuing restricted free agents Tari Eason and Peyton Watson.
When it comes to the unrestricted market, the NBA insider claims Andrew Wiggins, Tobias Harris, Quentin Grimes, and Dean Wade are players that fit the profile of what the organization will be looking for in the summer.
While Harris is a solid player, the five-year, $180 million deal he signed with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2019 will go down as one of the worst ever signed in free agency. In Philly, he averaged 17 points, 6 boards, and 3 assists over his six seasons as he earned $36 million annually.
