3 potential buyout targets for the Los Angeles Lakers
By Dalton Sell
With a 26-31 record on the year, the Los Angeles Lakers currently occupy the ninth spot in the Western Conference standings and look like a team trending downward. Given their lackluster record, many did not agree with the LA’s decision to stand pat at the NBA trade deadline when it was clear that they needed to make changes.
Sure, offloading Russell Westbrook’s hefty contract seemed virtually impossible, and LA’s offer of Talen Horton-Tucker, Kendrick Nunn, and a first-round pick that is five years away was never going to attract teams.
Still, it would have been interesting to see them at least do something in an attempt to fix their handful of roster issues. Perhaps they still could in the buyout market, where a number of household names are rumored to potentially be available in the coming weeks.
With that said, let us look at three targets that should be on the Los Angeles Lakers’ buyout radar.
3 potential buyout targets for the Los Angeles Lakers: DeAndre’ Bembry
The Lakers underwent some roster retooling this past offseason, which included letting go three strong defenders in Alex Caruso, Markieff Morris, and Wesley Matthews.
As a result, the defense has not looked particularly good this season, and Los Angeles should be on the hunt for players that can help them on that side of the ball. In that case, one player that should be on their radar is DeAndre’ Bembry.
It was surprising to see the Brooklyn Nets waive Bembry in the aftermath of their huge trade deadline deal for Ben Simmons, especially given how well he played for them this season.
Regardless, it should not take long for Bembry to find a new home, as the two-way forward could help several teams, including the Lakers, who should be looking to shore up their wing depth before the postseason.
Although adding a piece such as Bembry will not cure LA’s defensive issues, it could help. Standing at 6-5, Bembry is a versatile player that can defend multiple positions, something that could work wonders for this team.
When top-tier wings like Kevin Durant, Jimmy Butler, and Jayson Tatum come to town, Bembry could take on the assignment of guarding that particular player. Offensively, the 27-year-old would not be a needle-tipper (5.8 points per game this season), but he is more than capable of hitting open shots on the perimeter.
Largely due to his defensive presence, the Lakers should target the forward to bulk up their wing rotation. They will not be alone in the hunt, but they should make a persistent effort to bring him aboard as they look to stay alive in the standings out West.