Los Angeles Lakers: Substance Over Star Power
The Los Angeles Lakers have the cap space to add several stars in free agency this offseason, but should seek to load the team with solid talent instead.
Another year, another highly anticipated free agency period for Los Angeles Lakers fans.
After the team’s worst season in franchise history and a three-year playoff drought, the Lakers are ironically in the best spot they’ve been in during that stretch due to a solid young core, a promising young coach and a load of money to spend in another talent-filled free agency pool.
Headlined by a superstar in Kevin Durant and riddled with star-caliber players in DeMar DeRozan, Hassan Whiteside and Mike Conley, it’s easy for fans of any team to get a little starstruck and want their teams to swing for the fences in order to land a game-changing player.
For Lakers fans, this feeling is heightened due to the allure of the franchise and unrivaled cap space to bring multiple stars aboard if necessary.
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However, just because someone has the power doesn’t necessarily mean they have to use it all the time — something that should be especially true for the Lakers this offseason.
In contrast to previous offseasons where the team has literally swung for the fences trying to get any and all superstars to Los Angeles, the team needs to have a more targeted approach to free agency this year.
Rather than blowing up the current roster to make way for a super team, the Lakers should focus on adding star power around the current core of youth. Luckily, there are several star-caliber players in this free agent pool that would also fit perfectly with the roster as it is.
Chief among them is Whiteside, a center who could fill the Lakers’ needs for a rim protector and another solid rebounder while also providing a legitimate offensive threat in the post and in pick-and-roll situations with guards D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson.
Top-tier wing players like DeRozan and Nicolas Batum also fit the roster as currently constructed, even as the team is poised to select either Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram with the second pick in this year’s draft.
However, the team also needs to consider using that money to go after talented role players like Harrison Barnes and Festus Ezeli of the Golden State Warriors — two players with championship experience as well as experience playing under new head coach Luke Walton.
Other high-end role players like Bismack Biyombo and former Laker Kent Bazemore could also be attractive options for way lower prices.
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It’s perfectly understandable for Lakers brass and fans to be excited as everything is in the realm of possibility for the team financially this offseason, but it’s the responsibility of the front office to make calculated and responsible moves that will actually serve to improve the team in the short and long-term.