The Lakers need a new starting point guard, shooting guard, and center if they want to rebound and win their 18th championship next season. Which position or positions will they prioritize and which stars will they pursue?
With no cap space for free agents and limited trading chips in the form of valued players under contract and tradeable draft picks, the Lakers face a daunting challenge upgrading the team’s starting lineup this offseason. Unless they’re willing to trade valuable young role players like Caruso and Horton-Tucker or accept being hard capped as the result of bringing in a player via a sign-and-trade, the Lakers options are severely handicapped.
So let’s look at the players the Lakers might target as new starting point guard, shooting guard, and center to get an idea of what kind of starting lineup the front office might be able to put together for next season:
FINDING A STARTING POINT GUARD
The Lakers need a starting point guard who takes and makes more threes, does a better job running the offense, and has a proven record of creating more and better assists with fewer turnovers than Dennis Schroder.
Upgrading the point guard position will be difficult since Schroder is an unrestricted free agent and the Lakers don’t have cap space to replace him if he leaves as a free agent this summer unless he agrees to a sign-and-trade. Ideally, trading him to a team that needs a point guard like the Knicks with cap space to create a trade exception or sign-and-trading him to a team like the Raptors without cap space might be the Lakers’ best two options.
Point guard is one position where there may be legitimate star players who might be attainable if the Lakers decided to go all-in to get a star point guard. In order of priority of fit, here are the Lakers point guard candidates:
- Kyle Lowry. The Lakers best option might be to revisit a possible double sign-and-trade deal with the Raptors for Schroder for Lowry. The Lakers would have to include a sweetener but Lowry would be their third star.
- Chris Paul. A double sign-and-trade of Schroder for CP3 is another option should Paul opt out of his contract with the Suns as expected and decides to join up his friend LeBron James to create a Lakers Big Three.
- Lonzo Ball. Like with Lowry and CP3, reuniting with Lonzo would require the Lakers to accept a hard cap for adding a player via a sign-and-trade but in compensation would not cost as much to pull off.
- Derrick Rose. Using the Taxpayer $6 million MLE or Non-Taxpayer $9 million MLE to sign Rose would enable the Lakers to save their trading chips to upgrade their starting shooting guard and center positions.
FINDING A STARTING SHOOTING GUARD
The Lakers need a starting shooting guard who is a proven high volume, high percentage 3-point shooter who can play defense and has the gravity to open up the floor for LeBron James and Anthony Davis to attack the rim.
Upgrading starting shooting guard should be the Lakers’ top priority as it’s the position with the most available high volume, high percentage 3-point shooters, including several players who would be legitimate third stars. Landing one of these elite 3-point shooters will likely require the Lakers to go all-in with package that could include quality role players like Kyle Caruso, Alex Caruso, Talen-Horton Tucker, and their first round pick.
The Lakers need to an elite high volume, high percentage 3-point shooter who can play creditable defense to replace low volume 3-point shooter KCP. In order of priority of fit, here are the Lakers shooting guard candidates:
- CJ McCollum. Landing a star shooting guard like CJ would require the Lakers to go all-in with a package of Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Talen Horton-Tucker, and their 2021 first round draft pick.
- Buddy Hield. Trading for Hield might be the Lakers best option as they already have had talks with the Kings about Hield and Sacramento has always coveted Kyle Kuzma. Hield would be a great fit on Lakers.
- Terry Rozier. The Hornets are deep at guard and short in the front court so might be interested in trading Rozier for a sign-and-trade for Harrell. Rozier is an elite volume 3-point shooter and quality playmaker.
- Malik Beasley. Since Beasley makes considerably less than any of the other high volume, high percentage 3-point shooters, the Lakers might be able to acquire him in return for Kyle Kuzma and Alex Caruso.
FINDING A STARTING CENTER
While the center position has become undervalued in today’s NBA, the Lakers desperately need to stop settling for temporary rent-a-center solutions and solidy the center position with a modern stretch center.
Over the last two seasons, the Lakers have failed to find a modern center who can shoot the three and finish lobs at the rim on offense and protect the rim and switch and rotate and defend on the perimeter on defense. McGee, Howard, Harrell, Gasol, and Drummond all had flaws that led to them being unplayable in the playoffs. Fortunately, the Lakers have the perfect prototype modern offensive and defensive center in Anthony Davis.
Wirh Anthony Davis fagility and desire not to play the five, the Lakers need a dependable starting center who can fill the team’s greatest two needs at the five: stretching the floor o offense and protecting the rim on defense.
- Myles Turner. The NBA’s leading shot blocker the past two seasons, Turner would be the perfect front court mate to pair with Anthony Davis in a Twin Towers lineup that would anchor a championship defense.
- Chris Boucher. The 6′ 9″ Boucher is another player who could be a great small ball center for the Lakers. His unique combination of length and athletic hops would be a great complement to Anthony Davis.
- Kristaps Porzingis. Word is the Mavs will be looking to move Porzingis as part of their franchise makeover since he and Doncic do not like each other. Playing next to Davis, Porzingis could be perfect for the Lakers.
- Nerlens Noel. While he can’t stretch the floor, Noel has speed, quickness, and mobility to be the perfect modern defensive center. Unlike Rudy Gobert, Nerlens cannot be playoff the floor defensively.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
Since they don’t have enough resources to land each of their top choices for starting point guard, shooting guard, and center, the Lakers will have to figure out what they need and how much to budget for each position.
If they use all their trading chips to land Lowry at point guard or McCollum at shooting guard, the Lakers may have to settle for signing a less expensive free agent with their MLE like Noel at center or like Rose at point guard. There are unlimited combinations of three new starters at point guard, shooting guard, and center that would be major upgrades for the Lakers and would unleash LeBron James and Anthony Davis to be even better.
For example, one combination that would be lethal for the Lakers would be Derrick Rose starting at point guard, Buddy Hield at shooting guard, and Myles Turner at center to complement LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Another great combination that could give the Lakers a third superstar to go with LeBron James and Anthony Davis would be Kyle Lowry starting at point guard, Buddy Hield at shooting guard, and Nerlens Noel at center.
In the end, this summer may be the most important offseason in LeBron James tenure with the Lakers. What Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front office do to upgrade the starting lineup will determine the future of the franchise.
We’re going to have a Lakers Fast Break podcast Sunday night to be posted Monday morning discussing all of the Lakers options to upgrade their current roster with trades and free agent signings this summer.
I wrote this article as part of my preparation for that podcast and as a guideline for Lakers fans to consider what I believe are the team’s top options to replace Dennis Schroder, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Andre Drummond as starters.
I’m a strong believer that the Lakers’ offseason plan needs to focus on landing a third star. My top picks for starting point guard are Kyle Lowry, starting shooting guard CJ McCollum, and starting center Myles Turner. Landing one of these three could take almost all of the Lakers trading chips, including young stars like Caruso and THT and their draft pick.
Since the Lakers don’t have enough trade assets or exceptions to land their top option at all three positions, Pelinka is going to have to be creative and decide which position should be the top priority and how resources should be allocated among the positions.
Are there scenarios where Schroder, KCP, or Drummond end up starting for the Lakers? If so, hopefully they would be part of packages where the Lakers landed a third superstar in the form of Lowry or McCollum or the player I still think should be their top priority: Myles Turner.
At any rate, hope you enjoy the article. I list my four top choices for the Lakers to pursue at point guard, shooting guard, and center. I also include all of the latest stats for each of the 12 players on my list. Let me know what you think of the article, my picks, and who else you would add to the list of potential starters for next season’s Lakers.
So, if the rumors are true, the Lakers may be looking to revive the Dennis Schroder and KCP for Lowry trade the Lakers and Raptors came close to making at the trade deadline when the Lakers woundn’t include THT.
The big question is what would the trade look like this time around? Raptors would have to agree with Dennis on a contract (4 years. $84 million) and Lakers with Lowry (2 years, $50 million). If the Lakers could make trade Schroder & KCP for Lowry, do it. It would be an important first domino to make the offseason a winner almost no matter what else.
The beauty of the deal is it doesn’t cost the Lakers Kyle Kuzma, their best trading chip, who could be used in a deal with Sacramento for Buddy Hield, another situation where there is history of interest on both sides. Buddy would modernize the Lakers offense greatly and open up lanes fr LeBron and AD to attack but also open shooters for them to dish to.
The Lakers problem this summer is they have no riller or ballast. So they can’t trade Kuzma ($13M) straight up for Buddy ($22M). Maybe add McKinnie and Gasol. Maybe expand the trade to include THT in a S&T and get back Maurice Harkness and Damian Jones. Anyway, there’s a way. That only leaves the starting center situation.
Good article Tom. I would love to Lonzo back home. I’m not crazy about bringing in a 35 year old Lowry that missed 26 games this year. McCollum would fit in great offensively just know that he isn’t the defender that KCP is and we’d suffer on that end. I also would like the fit with Buddy Hield. He struggled to make shots all year but with LBJ and AD he’d get a more easier shots with the Lakers. I agree Turner would be great fit but I don’t think the Pacers will trade him to the Lakers.
Dennis not agreeing unless he gets a major overpay which TO won’t want, so don’t waste your breath.
I am not on the Lowry or Kemba train. We have injury concerns enough as it is. In terms of the SG spot I think we have to also consider what’s full off-season of rest will do for KCP who, apart from his lack of a consistent shot or aggressive offensive posture last season, is a perfect fit fir this team. As far as center goes I am also not on board the “we 100%, absolutely have to, we’ve failed LeBron if we don’t get a stretch give this summer” train. Ayton doesn’t shoot threes, just does big man stuff well. If we can swing a reasonable trade for Turner or Vucevic, great, those are the only two I’d really consider, maybe bringing back an aged-Brook Lopez if possible but other than that we need a banger for the regular season more than a tall guy who can shoot threes. Honestly I’ll be fine if we simply keep Gasoline and Drummond if it’s for the vet min in Dre’s case. Prove you want to be here, give us the ability to build steam around you and we can give you a raise next season. PG is where we need to focus. Using Schroder in a S&T for either Russ, Dame or…Simmons… makes TONS of sense for the Lakers as those guys are already signed and we wouldn’t be hard-capped in the doing. If that takes including KCP or Kuzma I think I’d be cool with that since those minutes can be slotted right into THT’s growth chart. Also, don’t sleep on us keeping cost-controlled McKinnie who showed some promise as a role guy with his rebounding and decent enough shooting. Honestly I’d be thrilled if the Lakers were in play to acquire Payne or Reggie. Calling Rondo on the buyout market next season now, lol.