Exploring how the Los Angeles Lakers have quietly won the NBA Free Agency with seven of the most underrated moves of the offseason.
After a disappointing showing in the Western Conference Finals at the hands of the Denver Nuggets, it was clear that the Los Angeles Lakers needed to beef up their supporting cast heading into the offseason. And if they weren’t going to add a star-level talent, they would have to emerge from the offseason with one of the deeper rosters in the Western Conference to realistically have a chance to compete with other contenders next season.
That’s exactly what the Lakers have accomplished through the first part of the offseason (after the NBA Draft and the first few days of NBA Free Agency). After making seven of the most underrated moves, the Lakers have quietly emerged with one of the deeper rosters in the West.
Let’s go through each of the big moves that the Lakers have made so far this offseason and explore how they will play an importance heading into next season.
The Los Angeles Lakers re-signed three key players
Austin Reaves (4 years, $56 million)
Heading into the offseason, there was little doubt that the Los Angeles Lakers needed to re-sign Austin Reaves. He developed into a key piece for the Lakers this past season and showed his worth for the team as they made a deep run in the NBA Playoffs.
Retaining him and signing him to a $56 million contract is a huge win for both sides. Reaves went from being a fringe NBA player to inking a contract that should deliver him generational wealth. As Reaves continues to improve as a player, he will give the Lakers a consistent offensive threat that will release pressure off of LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
D’Angelo Russell (2 years, $37 million)
There were many questions revolving around whether D’Angelo Russell would be retained by the Lakers. In a vacuum, considering the team made a move at the NBA Trade Deadline for him, they almost had to bring him back. However, there was an outside chance that an upgrade at the position would arise and the Lakers always kept open to the possibility of moving on from Russell.
In the end, a two-year deal made sense for both sides. The Lakers aren’t married to Russell and nor is Russell to the Lakers.
Rui Hachimura (3 years, $51 million)
After acquiring Rui Hachimura from the Washington Wizards last season, the big question was whether he could be consistent enough to warrant another contract with the team. In the end, he was more good than bad for the Lakers. It resulted in him getting a three-year deal to remain with LA.
Hachimura certainly had his bright spots with the Lakers and had a marquee moment in the NBA Playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies. If he can continue to build off of last season, there’s no question Hachimura could emerge as a key contributor for the Lakers this season.
Jaxson Hayes (2 years, vet minimum)
In what could end up being one of the best value contracts signed in NBA Free Agency this offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers taking a flier on Jaxson Hayes could end up working out in a big way. Through the first few years of his career, Hayes has been wildly inconsistent and that’s one of the bigger (basketball) reasons why the New Orleans Pelicans allowed him to walk in free agency this offseason – he also has had some legal issues to complicate his uneven play.
Nevertheless, if Hayes can focus on basketball and put his past in the past, there’s a chance that he could turn his career around in Los Angeles. Hayes is still just 23 years old, an intriguing athlete as a 7-foot center, and could be put in a great position to be successful while learning under the tutelage of Anthony Davis.
During his best season with the Pelicans (2021-22), Hayes averaged nine points and five rebounds on 62 percent shooting from the field in just 20 minutes per game. If Hayes can replicate some of that same consistency and production with the Lakers this upcoming season, he could end up being one of the more underrated signings of the offseason.
Taurean Prince (1-year, $4.5 million)
The Los Angeles Lakers used their Bi-Annual Exception to sign Taurean Prince away from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Even though Prince has bounced around the league quite a bit through the first seven years of his career, you can make the sound argument that he’s been productive at nearly every stop. Most recently, he averaged nine points on 38 percent shooting from 3-point range this past season with the Wolves.
In short, Prince is the 3-and-D weapon that the Lakers were drastically missing during last year’s playoff run. I’m not going to say that if Prince was on the Lakers that their series with the Nuggets changes that much (I’m not sure if any team was beating the Lakers last year), but there’s no question a versatile defensive wing would’ve helped matters some.
Playing next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis should help Prince on the offensive end of the floor while Prince’s defensive tools will help take some of the pressure off the team’s defensive-challenged contributors. All in all, this seems like a great move for both the Lakers and Prince.
If it all pans out, perhaps Prince can go out and sign a long-term contract with the Lakers or another team next summer.
Cam Reddish (2 years, $4.6 million)
As a former top 10 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, and considering how talented he is, it’s actually quite the mystery as to why Cam Reddish hasn’t been more effective during the first few years in the NBA. On paper, there is a lot to like about Reddish – his athleticism, ability to stretch defenses with his jump shot, and his size. However, one thing that has plagued him through four years in the league is his continued inconsistency. It’s one of the reasons why he’s played for three different teams in the last two seasons.
However, the hope is that he can find a home with the Los Angeles Lakers. Even though this deal is crafted as more of a one-year deal, if Reddish does find success with the Lakers, there’s no question that they would want to bring him back even if it does have to happen at a higher number next summer.
Reddish has flashed stretches of really good basketball. The challenge at this point in his career is finding the right consistency. Still just 23 years old, the hope is that he can find it while playing with two other great players in LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
After being traded to the Portland Trail Blazers at the NBA Trade Deadline last season, Reddish averaged 11 points on 44 percent shooting from the field.
Gabe Vincent (3 years, $33 million)
As the questions continued to linger about whether the Los Angeles Lakers would move forward with D’Angelo Russell or if they’d search for an upgrade, the team, instead, decided to make arguably the sneaky best move of free agency thus far. The Lakers signed Gabe Vincent away from the Miami Heat as an insurance policy for Russell. At $33 million over three years, it’s also a move that doesn’t break the bank for the Lakers heading into the season.
For as good as Russell can be on the offensive end, he leaves a lot to be desired on the defensive end. That’s where the signing of Vincent can help. Vincent is far from an elite defender, but he’s a battler on that end of the floor and is not a negative player when defending the point of attack or the Heat this past season.
Considering how much Vincent has grown on the offensive end too, this is a deal that could end up paying huge dividends for the Lakers down the road. What I like most about this added insurance that the Lakers now have in the backcourt is that it gives them options heading into the season.
If the right trade offer arose for Russell, they won’t hesitate to make the move. The Lakers retained the asset (Russell) while also possibly landing his replacement. It’s just an excellent move all around for Los Angeles.