Lakers Must Pivot to Free Agency After Uneventful Trade Deadline

The Los Angeles Lakers are failing to uphold their standards as one of the most prestigious teams in the NBA.

Now halfway through the season, it’s clear the Lakers are struggling to find their identity. Of course, they’re missing a potential All-Star in Austin Reaves. But, pairing Luka Dončić with LeBron James should be enough to defeat teams like the Milwaukee Bucks (21-30), Portland Trail Blazers (26-28), and Sacramento Kings (12-43).

Even though L.A. remains well above .500, there’s still a lot of work to be done. Having a 32-20 record simply isn’t good enough for the 17-time champions.

If General Manager Rob Pelinka is serious about reclaiming the league lead in titles from the Boston Celtics, the Michigan graduate must upgrade the roster.

At the trade deadline, he managed to acquire the best shooter in the league, Luke Kennard, and expressed his excitement about adding him to the team.

“I think clearly, right now, he’s the game’s best shooter,” said Pelinka. “When you get to add the best shooter in the game to your group at the deadline, it’s a great opportunity.”

Pelinka traded Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for the three-point sniper. Pelinka followed it up by signing another former Hawk, Kobe Bufkin, to a two-year deal after an incredible run in the NBA G League.

The 22-year old led the South Bay Lakers with 24.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in seven games.

Both moves are a massive step in the right direction, but this roster isn’t enough claim an NBA title. They’ll likely lose in the first or second round of the 2026 Playoffs, so it’d be beneficial to look ahead to Free Agency.

Pelinka has plenty of first-round picks available and around $100 million in cap space. These assets will be key to a big free-agent signing. Bleacher Report NBA Insider Jake Fischer is already reporting activity for L.A.

Assessing The Market

Fischer revealed Pelinka and the Lakers’ front office have their sights set on Denver’s young, surging forward.

At 23 years old, Peyton Watson was having a breakout season for the 2023 NBA champions before suffering a Grade 2 hamstring injury on Feb. 4. The Beverly Hills native is averaging 14.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.0 assists while shooting over 50% from the field.

His two-way archetype is exactly what the Lakers need. Their defensive rating ranks among the lowest (24th) after playing 51 games. It was exacerbated by their losses to the Hornets (11/15) and Blazers (11/17), in which both opponents scored over 130 points. 

The defensive lapses are detrimental to their long-term stability, and the first step is to sign a defensive-minded wing. If Watson isn’t an option, Andrew Wiggins would be a great fit for the team; he’ll be on the market if he declines his player option.

Seeking Out a Veteran Wing

Pulling the trigger on the former NBA champion, Wiggins, would add much-needed athleticism and defense to the roster.

In Miami, Wiggins is giving coach Erik Spoelstra 31 minutes a night as the starting power forward. He’s still a reliable contributor, averaging 15.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists this year. It’s also encouraging to see that Wiggins’ three-point shooting has improved as his leaping ability declines with age.

He’s currently shooting over 39% from behind the arc, the second-highest percentage of his 11-year career. It’s a product of his basketball IQ and experience, another set of skills L.A. desperately needs.

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The Young Lakers?

The average age in the locker room is around 26. Historically, that’s irregular for the Lakers. Their legendary teams of the 80s, 90s, and 2000s all featured older rosters.

Many of the key pieces were in their late 20s to mid-30s, including Robert Horry (30), Ron Harper (36), and Glen Rice (32). It’s ironic because the franchise’s best players ever — like Shaquille O’Neal, Magic Johnson, and Kobe Bryant — were their youngest players on the roster.

Pelinka currently has a similar roster structure, with Dončić and Austin Reaves leading the team. As a result, he must surround the star backcourt with the best defensive-minded, versatile veterans available.

Luckily for Pelinka, Keon Ellis could be another potential addition through free agency. Ellis just got moved from Sacramento to Cleveland, but the defensive-minded guard will still be a hot commodity this summer.

A Free Agent Target with Upside

Pelinka did a great job signing Deandre Ayton on the margins this past offseason. He hasn’t showcased All-Star potential with L.A., but Ayton can excel next to Dončić. The same can’t be said for Jaxson Hayes. Another way to improve the Lakers’ defense is to bring reinforcements at center.

For example, Isaiah Hartenstein of Oklahoma City. The 27-year old was a huge piece of Oklahoma City’s championship run last season.

Now, he’s potentially in the final year of his contract. The Thunder can choose to accept or decline his team option for 2026-27. Hartenstein would receive $28.5 million from the Thunder if he accepts the option, according to Spotrac.

The potentially expensive contract has sparked trade discussions. That’s expected, mainly because of the Thunder’s current payroll commitments to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams.

Hartenstein would be a potentially great fit for L.A. and definitely has the potential to replace Ayton in the starting lineup. Outside of some injuries, he’s having another incredible year for the Thunder, averaging 11.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.

Finding Hidden Gems  

Similar to last offseason, L.A. will likely need to acquire talent along the margins. Even with its superstars on offense, bench scoring remains another issue the team has to address. There is not a single player on the Lakers’ bench averaging over 10 points per game.

Quentin Grimes could be the solution to this problem.

Grimes is having another great year for Philadelphia. He’s averaging 13.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. Still just 25 years old, he’s only getting better, and his talents are worth more than his current salary of $8.7 million.

Last summer, Grimes and the Sixers didn’t reach an agreement on an extension. Instead, he accepted his qualifying offer. Now on a one-year deal, he’ll have clear intentions to test free agency this summer. Bringing him to L.A. would add another reliable scorer to the bench.

Overall, these are some of the many potential moves the Lakers could make this summer. With the NBA trade deadline behind us, Lakers fans will have to wait five more months for new acquisitions.