Thus far this summer, the Los Angeles Lakers have combed the market and found nothing. Rookies Dalton Knecht and Bronny James are the only significant additions to the team, and only Knecht has the ability to be a rotational player. Aside from that, all of the Lakers’ players from their first-round loss the previous season are returning, and they are running it back.
Despite having a vast list of players to choose from, the Lakers were unable to get Klay Thompson and Buddy Hield, while other players like D’Angelo Russell were said to have little trade value. Lauri Markkanen, the All-Star from the Utah Jazz, is being pursued by teams in the West, including the Warriors. The Lakers might have to overpay to completely destroy the Jazz in order to prevent getting jumped by another competitor.
Given the long-term equity he’s giving up for a win-now player to make the most of LeBron James and Anthony Davis’ next few seasons in their prime, Rob Pelinka may have been foolish in making this trade. But considering what the Lakers are rejecting, this is the only offer the Jazz are likely to take, and it would actually make the Lakers a serious contender in the near future.
The Lakers’ lineup is strong, but there are some weak points, particularly in the offensive department. Long injury layoffs kept players like Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent out of the lineup, while Darvin Ham didn’t use players like Max Christie to their full potential. Lauri Markkanen, who averaged 23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists, would be a valuable acquisition to the Lakers, giving them a formidable starting lineup of complementary players.
Being able to spread the floor and manage the offense in non-LeBron minutes, which was a major problem for the Lakers last season, would make Markkanen an ideal offensive fit. His more consistent shooting and enhanced playmaking make him a good match for practically any lineup configuration used by the Lakers. In non-Davis minutes, he could play with James and Davis and lead a frontcourt, capitalizing on their combined attacking force.
