Even though LeBron James is set to embark on his historic 21st season, it has opened up speculation about what the Los Angeles Lakers should do once he hangs up his jersey for good. The purple and gold have been mentioned in a flurry of rumors involving other NBA stars—ones who could be paired with future cornerstone Anthony Davis.
With all of this in mind, it’s worth examining the potential routes the Lakers could take and which stars—if any—the team should pursue.
Los Angeles Lakers: What’s the Plan After LeBron Retires?
Rebuild?
Before diving into star-studded rumors, it’s worth addressing that—given Davis’s recent extension—another rebuild is out of the question. Unless things change drastically, Davis will continue to lead the Lakers in their championship pursuits. The real questions are: who will be his second star, and who else can the Lakers rely upon in a few years?
Adding to the City of Stars
Giannis Antetokounmpo
If things go south with the Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo could be out the door, and he reportedly has interest from both the Lakers and the New York Knicks. As mentioned previously, Antetokounmpo and Davis could become a dominant duo of bigs in LA, capable of captivating performances on both ends of the floor. Though the paint may become more crowded, Davis and Antetokounmpo could figure out how to make things work. It would take a lot of sacrifice from both sides—a practice preached heavily by head coach Darvin Ham. However, for Antetokounmpo, the possibility of suiting up for one of the league’s elite franchises cannot be denied.
Trae Young
The Lakers have also been monitoring Trae Young’s current situation with the Atlanta Hawks, according to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha. Although he’s averaged 25.5 points and 9.3 assists in five seasons, the Hawks don’t have much to show for it. Atlanta has made the playoffs each of the last three seasons but had their dreams dashed in the first round every time. This past season, Young averaged a double-double for the first time in his career (26.2 PPG and 10.2 APG). However, he also shot a second-worst 33% from beyond the arc.
Young, another mentee of Kobe Bryant’s, could compliment Davis and others accordingly with his shooting and facilitating. However, the Lakers have increased their size at the guard position, favoring players around six-foot-four or six-foot-five instead of six-foot-tall players. This puts Young at a disadvantage. However, he’s continued to display heart over height on defense, according to Hawks head coach Quin Snyder (following the team’s elimination at the hands of the Miami Heat):
“He’s got a lot of pride. The thing he and I have talked about is using his quickness. If you don’t want to switch him onto Jimmy Butler — you don’t want to switch a lot of people onto Jimmy Butler — but in Trae’s case using his quickness to his advantage.”
Aside from Young’s necessary growth on defense, he’d open up the floor for a team anchored by Davis’s paint presence. Surrounding the duo with capable shooters and finishers would be key, though Young and Davis would be another optimal pair if the opportunity presents itself.
Damian Lillard
Finally, the big fish in a sea of trade rumors, Damian Lillard is still hoping for an avenue out from the Portland Trail Blazers—even if he doesn’t want to acknowledge it directly. As Buha mentioned briefly, the Lakers previously pursued Lillard. However, the odds of him ending up in purple and gold are slim to none. The Lakers wouldn’t even be able to trade for him. Their largest contracts behind James and Davis’s deals—D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura—were just inked this offseason. Thus, the Lakers cannot trade the two until December 15.
There’s no denying that a player of Lillard’s caliber would immediately elevate the Lakers with Davis. The prospect of a Lillard-Davis connection is too good to ignore, between Davis’s paint prowess and Lillard’s three-level scoring. However, it all remains a pipe dream. Unless the Blazers are willing to wait a few more months and the Lakers want to throw the kitchen sink at a seven-time All-Star (who isn’t getting any younger), the Lillard-Lakers jersey swaps can stop there.
Honorable Mentions
It’s worth noting that Kyrie Irving and Kyle Lowry were also included in the Lakers’ recent pursuit of star guards. However, the Irving-to-LA ship sailed long ago. Also, Lowry, though talented and experienced, is not the player to target at 37 years old. If the Lakers are hellbent on getting a second star, they should go after Antetokounmpo or Young if possible.
Continuity is Key
At the same time, the Lakers still have a great core around James and Davis. Their supporting cast will still be effective when Davis officially leads the franchise. Russell and Hachimura are under contract until 2025 and 2026, respectively. Newcomer Gabe Vincent is also signed to a three-year deal, and he’s a promising piece for the team’s future. Austin Reaves, whose excellence in FIBA play has contributed to his continued rise in stardom, could be a Laker until 2027. The team also has other young players—rising sophomore Max Christie and rookies Jalen Hood-Schifino and Maxwell Lewis (among others)—whose development will be key in years to come.
The pieces around a dominant duo are just as important as the leading players. The Lakers’ offseason moves have kept them ready to remain in contention for the next few years.
The Last Word
Though the Lakers remain focused on next season, they should still have a plan for when James retires. Undoubtedly, Davis will continue to have a prominent role in the organization. However, surrounding him with the proper pieces will be critical to the team’s success. The Lakers are likely to go big when thinking about the future. Adding a star in their prime is the Lakers’ best-case scenario for a post-LeBron future.
