Aloha,
This off season the Lakers have 3 things going for them.
1. This is a very deep draft. Covid delayed a lot of players entering the draft the last couple of years. Players in our 35th pick range would have been late 1st rounders in other years. Also there will be undrafted players that would have been drafted in previous years.
2. There is not a lot of free agent money available.
3. The Lakers have a lot of open roster spots. This will be enticing for free agents wanting to repair their value. This will draw both veteran free agents and undrafted rookies.
Lakers hopes for deal with Hornets still alive. Hornets drafted Duke center so won’t be trading for one. Also traded one of their two picks for pick down the road just to avoid paying for two first round picks. Same old Hornets. Dump trade for Russ could fly.