Free agents and trading options
The Lakers’ offseason plans for 2023 may not include that much. Rob Pelinka has been revamping the squad throughout the season and for the most part has done an excellent job. So all you need to do is make a few minor tweaks to clear the hurdle and get back in the championship fight.
Still, this team needs to be younger and plan ahead for the future. LeBron James isn’t getting any younger and we already know we can’t count on Anthony Davis staying healthy for an entire season so they need to find more shooters.
Lakers offseason plans 2023
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the Lakers’ 2023 offseason plans, some of the upcoming Lakers free agents, and what they should or shouldn’t do over the next few months if they want to fly Banner #18 sooner rather than later .
Free Agents
The Lakers roster could look very different next season if they don’t play their cards well. Malik Beasley hasn’t done as well as they thought so it’s unlikely they will bring him back next season. Scottie Pippen Jr. is on a two-way contract but has barely played.
Dennis Schroder has been inconsistent but he is a beloved member of the dressing room. Troy Brown Jr. and Tristan Thompson gave them next to nothing in the playoffs, so they should be on the way out, and the same goes for D’Angelo Russell.
As for Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves, they will reportedly fulfill all offers with the decision on Lonnie Walker IV still pending after he shared glimpses of a great game, and then after injury and all the new arrivals that they have made retires from the rotation.
Possible off-season destinations
As always, there will be pretty much every available star in the Lakers offseason rumors. They have always been associated with the league’s most prominent names and most stars have appreciated the opportunity to work with LeBron James.
This off-season will be no exception to that rule. Some of the Lakers’ free agency targets in 2023 could be Kyle Kuzma, Kyrie Irving, Draymond Green, or even James Harden if he steps out in the final year of his contract.
On the other hand, their primary focus should be keeping their core squad together for at least another season. They were close to reaching the NBA Finals and they just need to do better with the Denver Nuggets or deeper teams like the Los Angeles Clippers.
What to make of Anthony Davis?
To be honest, the Lakers just can’t trust Anthony Davis. At least offensively he was Alternate Days (AD) in the playoffs. His defense has been mostly on point despite never having an answer for Nikola Jokic, but it’s hard to blame anyone for him struggling against arguably the most versatile attacking player in the league at the moment.
The thing is, Davis is rarely healthy and his engine goes on and off at times. His body language isn’t exactly encouraging and it’s almost impossible for him to turn things around after a slow start. On the other hand, he can cool down just as quickly as he heats up when other teams double him.
There’s no denying that Davis is one of the most talented two-way players this game has ever seen. But the Lakers may have to come to terms with the fact that he won’t carry LeBron’s torch and will be their go-to person once the King is out of town.
Darvin Ham may not boast one of the highest head coaching salaries, but he’s certainly done a terrific job of keeping his team competitive despite an inconsistent Davis. But they may need to consider all options, and that includes trading with him.
LeBron’s demise
With that in mind, it’s time to talk about the future of one of the greatest small forwards of all time. LeBron James is no longer a teenager and he looked human for the first time in his career. He was literally gasping for air, and while he’s upped the intensity a notch every few games, especially against the Golden State Warriors, he’s not going to be the same player, and that’s okay.
James has played 20 full seasons at the highest level. It would be unrealistic to expect the Lakers to carry the burden and be their go-to person throughout an 82-game season. He’s relied on his teammates more often than usual in the playoffs, and it should continue to be so in the future.
You can’t let James fire more than 20 shots, drive down the track, assist others and play more than 38 minutes a night. It was a top run and chances are no one will ever be as good as LeBron James for as long. We’re not saying he won’t be an All-Star player anymore, but that playoff run could have been the beginning of the end.
The Lakers need to adjust and plan accordingly. James will now play with the ball more than ever and get used to the occasional rest day, especially in back-to-back sets. If that doesn’t make you feel old, then I don’t know what will.
