How the Lakers survive a productive offseason: Three steps to becoming a Western Conference contender

According to the article by Nico Martinez, a contributor to US sports media F/W. The Lakers face so much stakes next season, it all depends on the choices they make this summer. While every Lakers fan thinks a successful offseason looks different, it is well known that the team has some goals to accomplish before the start of next season. After losing to the Timberwolves in five games in the first round, the team management was aware of the need to make changes. Of course, due to the limited flexibility of the cap, the Lakers can do so much, and they have to pick and choose where they want to upgrade to narrow down.

The only players that cannot be touched are LeBron James (and Brownie) and his partner Luca Doncic. The rest of the Lakers are on the negotiating table, including sharpshooter Austin Reeves. With these things in mind, we can have a comprehensive look at what the Lakers want to do in the coming months. This offseason, the path to progress is mainly divided into three steps, which is the only way for the Lakers to determine their future position in the West.

Luca Doncic's team needs help him stay in shape this summer

For the Lakers, it's up to Luca Doncic, and they need him to be at his best if they want to get anything worth noting next season. On his way out of Dallas, the Mavericks raised concerns about his physical fitness and work ethics, which are the values ​​that the Lakers usually prioritize players. As the team’s spokesperson and main organizational core, the Lakers need Doncic to go all out, which means creating a plan to help him stay in shape this summer. Whether with team staff or his private training team, Doncic needs to show the Lakers his commitment through training beyond the offseason to ensure he goes all out on Opening Night.

The extra work could have allowed Doncic to spend his best season yet, earning an MVP nomination and top-ranking in the standings. However, if bad habits continue, it will set a bad example for the rest of the team and clash with the Lakers’ victory culture.

Introducing reliable free agents

Deepening is another area that Los Angeles needs, and they need more firepower in multiple positions to have a chance to win the championship. Specifically, on the bench, the Lakers need a player they can rely on, who suppresses opponents offensively and leads the team while LeBron and Luca sit. The Lakers can’t be too ambitious when it comes to free agents due to limited cap space, but they will have a non-taxpayer intermediate exception (expected $14.1 million) and a taxpayer intermediate exception (expected $5.7 million) to potentially sign free agents.

As far as potential targets are concerned, several names have appeared, such as Walker, Capela, and Adams. Any player who can afford and who can contribute meaningful time on the bench is worth considering. If the Lakers play well, they can add some significant depth to the wing (or anywhere else) that is still within their budget.

Trading top centers to solve inside flaws

The Lakers may not be looking for a complete star, but they certainly need to upgrade to the center position, not Jaxon Hayes. While free agent choices are too expensive for Los Angeles, they can be realized in the trading market where they have a lot of assets to offer (players and draft picks).

By building a quote around Austin Reeves, Hachimura or Dalton Knecht, the Lakers can find a high-level player in the frontcourt who can catch Doncic's all-over and defend at the other end. Possible names include Gafford, Allen and Clarkston. Or, they can chase young players like Sharp or Sims. With size and strength increasing, the Lakers will undoubtedly become a better defensive team, which will greatly help maximize their potential as a whole. If they can keep Jaxon Hayes in the trade, they will arrange a more comprehensive big man rotation in the backcourt to compete with teams like the Timberwolves, Nuggets and Thunder.

With so many variables at work, it is impossible to predict how the Lakers will end, but with their two superstars locked in, they have laid the foundation for a championship team. To complete their ideal offseason, all they need to do is make sure their core players are supported enough and are in the right mindset for a long and competitive season.