Lakers: 3 free agents Los Angeles should sign in 2021 offseason
By Scott Rogust
If the Los Angeles Lakers want to return to the NBA Finals in 2022, they should consider signing these three free agents this summer.
The Los Angeles Lakers did not accomplish their 2020-21 season goal of winning the NBA championship for the second consecutive year, as they fell to the Phoenix Suns in six games during their first-round matchup. While the Suns proved to be a tough competitor, the Lakers’ supporting cast did not perform well when LeBron James was off the court, especially once Anthony Davis was sidelined due to a groin strain.
Once the NBA Finals conclude, the Lakers will have 11 players hitting free agency. Between LeBron, AD, Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Marc Gasol, the Lakers already have $105.3 million on the books … and that’s without even accounting for Montrezl Harrell’s $9.7 million player option or Talen Horton-Tucker’s restricted free agency.
If the Lakers want to add talent to a championship core, they’ll need outside free agents to be willing to take a discount, or they’ll need to trade KCP and/or Kuzma. Even so, there are still a few potential options for them to add this offseason. Here are three potential free-agency targets for the Lakers this summer.
3. J.J. Redick
If the Lakers’ first-round showing proved anything, it’s that they need to add more capable shooters. In Los Angeles’ six games against the Suns, the Lakers only shot 41.4 percent from the field, which was the third-worst among all playoff teams, ranking just ahead of the New York Knicks (39.8 percent) and the Miami Heat (39.5 percent), per NBA.com.
Even worse, they only shot 29.9 percent from 3-point range, which ranked 15th among all 16 playoff teams. This wasn’t an aberration either; LA shot 35.4 percent from long range during the regular season, which ranked 21st.
With this statistic, the Lakers need to find a solution to this issue. Luckily for them, J.J. Redick is scheduled to become a free agent.
Throughout his 15-year NBA career, Redick has owned a 3-point percentage of over 41.5 percent. This past season, the guard shot 37.1 percent from deep total in his stints with both the New Orleans Pelicans and Dallas Mavericks. Redick did, unfortunately miss Dallas’ first-round series against the LA Clippers due to a right heel injury.
When healthy, Redick is one of the best shooters in the game. The Lakers should consider making him an offer this summer, especially if the soon-to-be 37-year-old wants to compete for a title before his time in the league is done.