If the Los Angeles Lakers are to improve their roster this summer, they may have to do so completely through free agency. While they can offer two future first-round draft picks, plus their first-rounder this year, in a potential trade, they lack players who are attractive on the trade market.
This year’s free agent market is expected to be fairly tepid, especially since many of the best free agents — other than the Lakers’ own LeBron James and Austin Reaves — will be restricted free agents. That means that the player’s current team will have the right to match any offer for such players that is made by another franchise.
According to a Heavy Sports report by Sean Deveney, one Western Conference executive feels the Lakers will be “shut out” on the restricted free agents they desire.
L.A.’s biggest free agent targets are thought to be Walker Kessler, the rising young center of the Utah Jazz, center Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons and Denver Nuggets wing Peyton Watson. Deveney broke down the situations with all three players as far as L.A. is concerned (h/t Lakers Daily).
“Walker Kessler of the Jazz is a player the Lakers were poised to make an offer on, one that would force Utah to match, something in the $30 million range,” Deveney wrote. “But there are indications the Jazz won’t be outbid for Kessler (within reason) and that the Lakers would not go that high on him, anyway.
“The same could be said for Jalen Duren in Detroit. It’s true that Duren has had a miserable postseason, and that his status as a max player is in peril. But around the league, the consensus is that the Pistons intend to match offers for him. Even if they don’t go to the max with him themselves, the Pistons still plan to negotiate with Duren directly.
“The Nuggets‘ Peyton Watson is another restricted free agency target for L.A., and probably the most realistic of the three. As good as Watson was in his breakout fourth season–14.6 points, 41.1% 3-point shooting–the Lakers are wary of committing $22-$25 million per year for Watson based on one injury-shortened year.
“The chance goes up if James retires, but the Lakers’ focus is still expected to be at center.”
If the Lakers’ focus is on upgrading at the center position, they may have to explore a trade for a lesser-known big man rather than spending their limited resources chasing Kessler or Duren. Besides, an argument could be made that it is more important for them to upgrade at the wing and guard spots, given all the great guard and wing stars across the NBA and the fact that playoff series hinge on individual matchups.
Los Angeles could have as much as roughly $50 million in salary cap space once free agency officially starts several weeks from now.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: NBA exec: Lakers figure to be ‘shut out’ on big free agent targets
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
