Lakers might not be so keen on adding a third star next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis after allhttps://t.co/JqAMKCOi0o via @BleacherReport
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) May 2, 2024
The Los Angeles Lakers might not be so keen on adding a third star next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis after all.
Jovan Buha of The Athletic reported some in the Lakers organization would prefer building through depth rather than acquiring a third superstar.
“The Lakers have pushed back in recent weeks and months on the notion of going down the three-star build path, so we’ll see how that all shakes out. I think LeBron James will have a say in that,” Buha said on The Athletic NBA Show (20-minute mark).
He added that James has long been a proponent of the Lakers trading for a third star.
The Lakers’ avenue to adding a third star isn’t as straightforward as it was around the trade deadline. With D’Angelo Russell more than likely opting out of his contract to test free agency, they would need him to agree to a sign-and-trade to make nearly any permutation of a superstar acquisition work.
Russell would be most likely packaged with a combination of veteran contracts for salary matching purposes, and the Lakers would almost certainly have to give up all of their draft-pick flexibility moving forward.
It would be understandable if the Lakers balked at the notion. James turns 40 in December. The front office has to start preparing for a world where he’s no longer on the roster. Davis turned 31 in March and has a long injury history. He’s also shown himself incapable of being the best player on a championship team at this point.
Even if the Lakers want to compete for a championship next season, they need to think about the long-term health of their franchise. Cashing in what remains of their assets for a one- or two-year run with a 40-plus-year-old James and crossing their fingers Davis stays healthy is a risky proposition.
Taking the middle ground and revamping the roster and coaching staff around Davis and James for next season might be the best long-term moveāeven if it makes the odds of a title in 2025 longer.
LakerTom says
The Lakers need to be very careful about adding a third star. It could work if the third star was Kyrie but adding somebody like Trae or LaVine would severely handicap team’s financial flexibility. Lakers can’t afford a second Westbrook disaster.
DJ2KB24 says
No Lavine, too much $$ for no play.