Insider Claims Lakers Eye ‘Difference-Making Perimeter Talent’

The Los Angeles Lakers will look pretty much the same at the end of the 2023-24 NFL season. However, experts believe that the team will make big moves in the offseason. The Lakers are predicted to do an effort and trade some picks to handle their perimeter issues.

LeBron James’ potential trade to the Golden State Warriors caused an avalanche of reactions in the league. It didn’t happen as Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka managed to keep his star player around. Now they have to rearrange the roster to his liking.

“They will be able to trade three first-round picks this summer, and league sources expect them to search for a difference-making perimeter talent,” Zach Lowe from ESPN wrote on February 16.

The Lakers were linked to multiple players before the trade deadline, including Dejounte Murray. According to a report from The Athletic, LeBron was a big fan of the potential trade.

So, if Murray is not coming to LA, is Pelinka actually trying to grab a bigger player?

Kendrick Perkins from ESPN stirred the pot with his recent comments. He dropped some hints at Pelinka’s next target.

“The Lakers need to stay in path and get through this season,” Perkins said on the “Pat McAfee Show” on February 16. “Have a run because another superstar is on the way this summer. I can’t reveal who that is… they trust me not to add this information out who that player is going to be.

“This superstar, actually is the perfect fit, not only for LeBron like it’s a match made in heaven for Anthony Davis.”

Lakers could fix their perimeter sooner than expected

Dave McMenamin from ESPN shared his thoughts as well. He bets on Donovan Mitchell and Trae Young. Both players make perfect sense for the Lakers, but the front office will have to use a few picks to sign any of these two players.

“The Lakers have discussed internally the possibility of packaging three picks, along with players they already have on their books, to pursue a bona fide star, such as Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers or Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks, team sources told ESPN,” McMenamin wrote.

There’s more. Shams Charania from The Athletic believes that Klay Thompson will try his chances at the open market in the offseason. If the Lakers want him, they will face serious competition.