Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
After a long summer of being cited as a possible landing spot for Jonathan Kuminga, he ultimately decides to sign with the Timberwolves, and the Lakers are back to searching for a starting level wing.
Does a starting level wing/power forward even exist on the current market? Nothing on the free agency side of things suggests so. Perhaps the trade market can present some options and even then, the Lakers are pretty scarce on tradeable assets enticing enough for other teams to consider handing them a starting caliber player.
So, where do the Lakers go from here? This could very well be the roster as it stands when opening night arrives, minus the one player who will have to be moved or cut in order to bring the roster count down to 15. There are also avenues to bolster their center depth. Nothing major or league shaking, but it doesn’t hurt to acquire another backup center for injury insurance.
Jake Fischer reported on a live stream with Bleacher Report that the Lakers could be in the mix for Bruce Brown. Brown cited in a podcast that he almost left the Denver Nuggets, who had just swept the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, to join the purple and gold in 2023 before the Pacers swooped in and offered him a more lucrative deal.
Brown went back to Denver last season on a 1-year minimum deal where he averaged 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 38.5% from three. Brown is a very good defender and could certainly add the Lakers’ perimeter defense. Despite being able to defend small forwards, being a 6’4 guard isn’t exactly what the Lakers need at the moment.
The current Lakers guard rotation is packed: Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle, Collin Sexton, Cameron Carr, Bronny James, Dalton Knecht, and Jaden Hardy.
While Brown is a valuable role player, relying on a smaller guard to be one of the primary wing stoppers isn’t ideal. The Lakers tried that experiment before with Patrick Beverly; it didn’t work out so well.
At the moment, the Lakers are going to have to look within, and it’ll be up to JJ Redick and staff to figure out who will be that starting forward. Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler and Quentin Grimes look like the for-sure starters for this group.
Jarred Vanderbilt, Jake LaRavia, and Ziaire Williams are the likely candidates to be that final starter. Each bring defensive versatility and or athleticism and in their own ways balance out the skillsets of the starting lineup as a whole.
The fifth and final spot is up for grabs, and training camp will give us a better indication of who that might be.
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Hello there! I’m Tyler. Basketball has been a passion of mine since I was a small kid and I’ve … More about Tyler Bazan Tags: Austin Reaves bruce brown Denver Nuggets Free Agency Indiana Pacers jake laravia jarred vanderbilt jj redick jonathan kuminga kuminga Lakers Los Angeles Lakers luka doncic minnesota timberwolves nba nba 2026-2027 season nba free agency nba free agents NBA offseason patrick beverly quentin grimes Walker Kessler ziaire williams