3 players the Lakers need to get in free agency if LeBron retires

1. Shake Milton

Shake Milton is the ultimate buy-low candidate for the Lakers. He obviously won’t reach the same heights as the greatest player since Michael Jordan, but Milton does have some untapped potential as a lead playmaker with size and positional versatility at 6-foot-7.

The Sixers smothered Milton under a mountain of guard depth last season, with James Harden, Tyrese Maxey, and De’Anthony Melton all (understandably) taking priority. Milton was out of the rotation once the playoffs arrived, and yet he could still make too much money for the Sixers to keep him (but not too much to dissuade the curious Lakers).

Between Nov. 19 and Dec. 2 this season, Milton registered eight straight starts for Philadelphia with Harden and Maxey both out due to injury. Over that stretch, Milton averaged 21.3 points on .547/.455/.964 shooting splits and dished out 6.0 assists per game. When given enough reps in the driver’s seat, Milton is capable of putting up numbers.

He’s a unique player: not particularly quick or shifty, but preternaturally gifted in the art of difficult shot-making. Milton has mastered the contested mid-range jumper and he’s quite skilled at using his 7-foot wingspan (!) to avoid defenders at the rim, hanging and stretching on layups to circumvent the shot-blocker. He’s not a great defender, but he’s big and switchable at his position with enough athleticism not to get roasted guarding 2-4. He would be a worthy upside swing for the Lakers, especially with D’Lo looking unplayable in the playoffs and Schroder being a candidate to leave in free agency.