With the NBA Draft officially in the books and free agency set to start this week, the Los Angeles Lakers are looking to bolster their roster and build on their championship aspirations. The Lakers hope to add some key pieces to help them stay competitive in the league after a busy offseason. They are expected to target veterans to add experience to the roster and help lead the team to further success.
Los Angeles Lakers Draft Recap and Free-Agency Outlook
Lakers NBA Draft Recap
The Los Angeles Lakers decided to retain their NBA Draft picks and bring in promising young talent. With the 17th overall pick, the Lakers selected Jalen Hood-Schifino. They also selected Mojave King with the 47th pick. The Lakers believe these young players have the potential to make an immediate impact and help the team succeed.
Rob Pelinka: “To be able to get a lottery-level talent in Jalen Hood-Schifino with the 17th pick is something we’re incredibly excited about.”
Pelinka cited Hood-Schifino’s positional size and maturity as things that appealed to the Lakers. Said he has “Lakers DNA.” pic.twitter.com/P8ThyzpOEz
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) June 23, 2023
Jalen Hood-Schifino is expected to replace Austin Reaves if the Los Angeles Lakers cannot re-sign him in free agency. He is expected to provide depth off the bench and be a key contributor in the Lakers’ rotation. Schifino is a 6’6 guard from Indiana University. He is known for his ability to score from mid-range and be a facilitator on the court while possessing a high defensive IQ to cover multiple positions on the court. There is room for improvement from beyond the arc. However, the Los Angeles player development team is confident that Schifino can improve his three-point shooting.
We saw, again, just as a point of comparison, with a player like Austin Reaves, when we drafted him, he wasn’t a knockdown shooter. But he is now,” Pelinka said. “It’s because he put in work—and work with our staff. And I know that’s something Jalen is committed to too.”
New Zealander Mojave King, on the other hand, is headed to the Indiana Pacers. The Los Angeles Lakers traded the 47th pick and cash to Indiana for the 40th overall pick in the NBA Draft. Los Angeles moved up seven spots to select Maxwell Lewis from Pepperdine. In two seasons in college, Lewis shot 35 percent from three-point range. His ability to hit the outside shot consistently will be a key asset for the Lakers in the upcoming season.
The Lakers made a significant commitment to make sure they could get a chance at Maxwell Lewis, sending ~$4m to Indiana to move up from 47 to 40. The rangy 6-7 forward out of Pepperdine made a major impression in his predraft workout with the team.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) June 23, 2023
Los Angeles 2023 NBA free agency
With NBA Free Agency now upon us, the Los Angeles Lakers have been linked to numerous players. But a few that stand out are the Indiana Pacers guard Buddy Hield and Forward Myles Turner. Both players have been associated with the Lakers for years now. Hield almost joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021 for Kyle Kuzma, but the trade was never completed. Turner has also been linked to the Lakers as a potential upgrade in the frontcourt. Both players would be a great fit for the Lakers and would instantly make them stronger contenders in the West.
On the other hand, the Los Angeles Lakers may not want to give up too much for either Hield or Turner. They may want to wait and see how the season plays out before making any big moves. Kyle Kuzma is also on their radar, but the Lakers must construct a sign and trade to bring him in. The franchise doesn’t have enough cap space to sign him outright.
Other names around the league linked to the Los Angeles Lakers include the Brooklyn Nets’ Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O’Neale. As well as Toronto Raptor Gary Trent Jr. All three players would be great additions to the Lakers’ roster, adding depth and experience to an already talented team. The Lakers are hoping to make a deep run in the playoffs this season, and adding any of these three players could help them achieve their goal.
