Lakers Split Picks Between This Season & Next Summer
In their first big decision since buying the team, the Mark Walter Lakers must decide whether to use their one first and one second round pick to better their odds to win a ring this season or save them for next summer.
The Lakers’ have two urgent roster needs. If they use their available first and second round picks to improve the team’s chances this season, they will still be able to offer two first round picks on draft day next summer. Frankly, the Lakers are unlikely to be competitive for any player whose price is going to require three or more draft picks but there are probably multiple scenarios where two picks will get a better player than one pick.
Since the Lakers immediate needs are for a starting 3&D small forward and backup shot-blocking center, they should utilize their first round pick for the starting wing and use their second round pick for the backup center.
That would fill their most urgent roster needs and leave them with two first round and one second round pick on draft day next summer plus up to $100 million in cap space to sign their own and other teams’ free agents.
While losing Austin Reaves was a tough blow for the player and team, hot having to start three offense first players suddenly clarifies a very difficult situation and could motivate the Lakers to go all-in to win a championship.
Suddenly, all the angst over whether the Big Three of Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves could win a ring don’t matter and the only thing the Lakers have to do now is figure out how to win with what they have.
It’s sad but Reaves getting hurt has the Lakers headed in the right direction. Here are three moves the Lakers can make to win a championship this season and without compromising their grand plans for next summer.
1. ANDREW WIGGINS TRADE
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The Lakers single biggest roster need for this season is to trade for an elite 3&D starting small forward like the Miami Heat’s Andrew Wiggins, who can stretch the floor with his made threes and lock down bigger wing scorers.
Wiggins would be a perfect fit as the starting small forward for the Lakers. Now 30-years old, Wiggins is still in the prime of his career, averaging 16.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in 32.4 minutes per game this season.
While the Lakers would prefer a younger, less expensive option, Wiggins is a proven elite point-of-attack defender averaging 1.1 blocks and 1.2 steals per game and shooting 40.7% from three on a solid 4.7 attempts per game.
Trading for Wiggins would cost the Lakers an unprotected 2031 first round pick plus matching salaries of Hachimura, Vincent, and Knecht. The trade would free up two more roster spots and $5.5 million under the first apron.
Until Austin Reaves returns, the Lakers’ starting lineup should have better balance with Luka Doncic at the one, Marcus Smart at the two, Andrew Wiggins at the three, LeBron James at the four, Deandre Ayton at the five.
Starting two elite point-of-attack defensive players like Andrew Wiggins and Marcus Smart would totally transform the Lakers from one of the worst to one of the best two-way starting lineups in the entire league.
The opportunity to test a Luka Doncic and Marcus Smart backcourt for next four to six weeks is one of the silver linings to Austin Reaves injury. Reaves could easily find himself coming off the bench when he returns.
Since Wiggins has a $30 million player option next season, the Lakers will need to sign him to an extension to make sure he will be under contract next summer. His contract could be critical if the Lakers pursue Giannis.
2. ROBERT WILLIAMS TRADE
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The Lakers’ other major roster need is to trade for a quality backup center like the Trailblazers’ Robert Williams III who’s a talented but injury prone backup center who’s elite at defending in space and protecting the rim.
The defense-first Robert Williams would be the perfect complement to backup the offense-first Deandre Ayton, the Lakers’ starting center. There will be times when Williams could even close games when needed.
Williams is now healthy and has played in 20 of the 30 games the Blazers have played. So far this season, Robert’s averaging 6.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 0.6 steals in just 16.1 minutes per game.
Trading for Williams would cost the Lakers an unprotected 2032 second round pick plus matching salaries of Maxi Kleber and Jaxson Hayes. The trade would free up one roster spot and cost $1.2 million in cap space.
Since Williams is on an expiring contract, the Lakers will need to sign him to an extension to make sure he will be under contract next summer. Like with Wiggins, his contract could be critical if the Lakers pursue Giannis.
Having two elite defensive players who can come off the bench when needed like Jarred Vanderbilt and Robert Williams is important to building a legitimate championship roster full of high quality two-way players.
It gives coach Redick the roster versatility to better matchup against any type of problem an opponent throws at them. It’s a luxury that separates teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder from the rest of the NBA’s teams.
Because the Lakers sent out 5 players and close to $50 million in expiring salaries to trade for Wiggins and Williams, they will need to scramble in the emerging buyout market and their two-way players to fill roster spots.
3. BUYOUT MARKET SIGNINGS
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While the Lakers don’t have any starter spots to offer candidates from the NBA buyout market, they do have some big backup minutes available at shooting guard behind Smart and at power forward behind LeBron James.
Besides playing time and a chance to play for a legendary franchise, the Lakers also have something no other contending team has, which is $97.6 million in expiring contracts to sign their and other teams’ free agents.
The beauty of free agency is that you don’t have to give up depth to match salaries or draft capital to sweeten the deal. It’s the smartest and quickest way to build a deep, diverse roster to compete with the Thunder and Spurs.
The two major buyout candidates the Lakers are interested in will be shooting guard Kelly Oubre, Jr. and power forward Kris Middleton. both of whom could be perfect backups for Marcus Smart and LeBron James.
Both are expected to be bought out for financial reasons and the Lakers should be a team both are interested in joining on a minimum contract in hopes of resurrecting their careers and winning a championship ring.
Oubre averaged 16.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.8 blocks, and 1.1 steals and shot 34.3% on 5.6 attempted threes in 34.8 minutes per game. Kelly Oubre Jr. would be great insurance for an injury prone Marcus Smart.
Middleton averaged 10.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.4 blocks, 0.8 steals and shot 32.7% on 2/5 attempted threes in 25 minutes per game. Kris Middleton would be solid insurance for an injury prone LeBron James.
I also included a buyout center Nick Richards, whom the Suns are likely to buyout, to use as a third center against bully ball bruiser type centers like Nikola Jokic, Walker Kessler, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Mitchell Robinson.