As the Los Angeles Lakers continue the offseason, the team is in a desperate search to land some meaningful talent to upgrade the roster. Following an early playoff exit, Los Angeles let go of head coach Darvin Ham and replaced him with first-time coach JJ Redick.
Redick should help the Lakers' offensive schemes and rotations more than Ham did, but the roster still needs some work. General manager Rob Pelinka has work to do but so far through the offseason, Los Angeles hasn't made any moves other than re-signing their own players.
Read more: Lakers, LeBron James Agree to Massive New Contract — With One Surprise
The Lakers have been linked to multiple big names this offseason, with the idea of adding a potential third star. Los Angeles still has LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the roster but lacks quality depth around the two stars. Since the beginning of time, the Lakers have been a star-driven franchise, so adding another player isn't out of the realm of possibility.
One of the biggest names on the trade block for Los Angeles has been point guard Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks. Young has been linked to the Lakers for some time now but no deal has come about yet. Atlanta just moved guard Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans, signaling a potential rebuild coming. Trading away Young may make the most sense, but it seems that the Lakers' interest in him may be fading.
According to ESPN's Zach Lowe, the Lakers and San Antonio Spurs haven't expressed much interest in going after the three-time All-Star this summer.
While a trade for Young may not come to fruition, his fit next to James and Davis makes a lot of sense. He can shoot the ball well from beyond the 3-point line and could help usher in the post-James era for Los Angeles. Last season, he averaged 25.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 10.8 assists per game. He also shot 37.3 percent from beyond the arc. However, in the NBA's latest Collective Bargaining Agreement, building a roster with three max contract slots isn't ideal. It severely hampers the ability to build out depth around the stars and Los Angeles has been trying to shy away from the three-star model.
Young could still land with the Lakers later this summer or even sometime during the season. But for now, Los Angeles seems content looking elsewhere to upgrade the roster.
Read more: Just How Long Will Lakers All-Star LeBron James Keep Playing?
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Matt Levine works as a contributing writer for Newsweek, covering multiple sports. He graduated in 2021 with a Master of ... Read more
