Fansided

5 offseason needs for the Los Angeles Lakers

By Luke Norris

LOS ANGELES - APRIL 1: A detailed shot of the Los Angeles Lakers logo taken during the game against the Houston Rockets at Staples Center on April 1, 2004 in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers won 93-85. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES - APRIL 1: A detailed shot of the Los Angeles Lakers logo taken during the game against the Houston Rockets at Staples Center on April 1, 2004 in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers won 93-85. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, CANADA – MAY 7: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors speaks to the media after Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers on May 7, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA – MAY 7: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors speaks to the media after Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers on May 7, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images) /

2. Sign at least one major free agent

Regardless of what happened this past season (or I suppose what didn’t happen) or what might happen this summer with the Anthony Davis trade, this was always the plan. Clear up cap space for the summer of 2019 when this huge crop of free agents hit the market. And just to get this out of the way, Kevin Durant and LeBron James will not be joining forces. That’s just not going to happen. It’s Golden State or New York for KD and that’s that.

However, while KD will certainly be the best player on the market, he’s not the only A-lister out there. Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Jimmy Butler and Kemba Walker will all be available and the Lakers simply have to convince at least one of these guys to come to L.A. For Leonard, the question might be whether that’s to play for the Lakers or the Clippers. It’s no secret that Los Angeles is where Leonard wants to be but the question remains which colors he’ll be wearing if he chooses to leave Toronto, which might now be a very big “if” as he continues to excel in these playoffs.

We all know the history with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving and we know how that history ended when Kyrie took off to the Celtics. While the two have seemingly reconciled, there’s still the matter of the two once again sharing a basketball. Both are better with the ball in their hand and that leaves Lonzo Ball out in the cold as he just doesn’t shoot the ball well enough to stay out on the perimeter. There’s also all those rumors that Irving might be the one to join up with KD in the Big Apple next year. With the Lakers seemingly in on Ball, at least for the time being, that pretty much takes Kemba Walker out of the equation as well.

Jimmy Butler certainly won’t be option number one for the Lakers this summer but there’s certainly going to be a discussion. Butler is another guy that has a bit of an affinity for Los Angeles and while he wouldn’t be a perfect fit with this team, he’s still going to make the team better.

As for Klay Thompson, he might just be the best fit of anyone mentioned on this page. With great passers like Ball and LeBron driving and dishing, Klay would just have to stand somewhere around the three-point line for 35 minutes a night and hit threes. The Durant situation in Golden State makes things very interesting as that might have something to do with whether or not the Warriors choose to offer Thompson the max deal he’s going to want.

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