Lakers Bold Predictions for Top 2022 NBA Offseason Signings, Trades

A busy NBA offseason for the Los Angeles Lakers keeps getting a busier.

A huge sigh of relief escaped Hollywood on Wednesday, as ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski brought word that LeBron James inked a two-year, $97.1 million extension. That gives the Lakers some needed certainty and stability for the near future, which perhaps will make them more aggressive to pursue win-now options.

Having said that, L.A. has shifted around plenty of moving pieces already, and those players could have a substantial say in the level of success this squad reaches during the 2022-23 season.

Let's project how some of these newcomers will transition to the team with a trio of bold predictions.

Lonnie Walker IV Averages 15-Plus Points

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SAN ANTONIO, TX -APRIL 9: Lonnie Walker IV #1 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket during the game against the Golden State Warriors on April 9, 2022 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photos by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

If Lakers fans haven't gotten used to saying the name Lonnie Walker IV yet, they might get away with calling the shooting guard "the new Malik Monk."

L.A.'s hopes of the 23-year-old repeating Monk's breakout success is pretty obvious. The light bulb could click just the same.

Like Monk last summer, Walker arrives in Hollywood as a recent first-round pick who has shown high-level flashes but struggled to sustain them. He's an athletic scoring guard with a streaky outside shot, but he looks really interesting when everything clicks.

The Lakers should give him every chance to succeed, since they need his scoring punch and shooting touch on the perimeter. As a complement to the stars and potential focal point when they sit, Walker should find more opportunities than ever, and he'll use them to tally 15-plus points on a nightly basis for the first time in his career.

Thomas Bryant Plays More Minutes at C Than Anthony Davis

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PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 12: Thomas Bryant #13 of the Washington Wizards shoots the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 12, 2022 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)

Every season, there's a debate around whether Anthony Davis should spend most of his minutes at power forward or center.

Last season, 76 percent of his minutes were played at the 5, which was the highest rate of his Lakers' tenure and the second-biggest of his career.

That could shift in a big way this time around, as L.A. has dramatically improved its interior rotation.

Both Thomas Bryant and Damian Jones bring new elements to the center mix, but the former could prove particularly valuable given his ability to space the floor.

The Lakers were too often starved for spacing last season—a cardinal sin for a James-led team—which surely drew them toward Bryant, a 6'10", 248-pounder who has hit 37.7 percent of his threes since 2019-20.

The 25-year-old should be able to feast on pick-and-pop or pick-and-roll chances, and Jones should carve his own niche as an energetic rim-runner.

If those two can handle the bulk of time at the 5, that will ease some of the burden on Davis, who could see his games and minutes closely monitored after being limited to just 76 contests the past two seasons combined.

Juan Toscano-Anderson Cracks the Closing Lineup

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BOSTON, MA - JUNE 10: Juan Toscano-Anderson #95 of the Golden State Warriors warms up before the game against the Boston Celtics prior to Game Four of the 2022 NBA Finals on June 10, 2022 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Annette Grant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Juan Toscano-Anderson arrives in L.A. with championship experience, endless energy and two-way versatility.

The Lakers could use all three, which should have coach Darvin Ham looking Toscano-Anderson's way early and often.

The 29-year-old has the strength to battle bigs around the basket and the quickness to chase guards around the perimeter. He makes quick decisions, provides a pinch of playmaking and won't force the issue when he doesn't have an opening.

Toscano-Anderson should also be an asset in transition and might be the favorite to pace this team in most of the relevant hustle stats.

That makes him perfectly equipped to support a star, or multiple stars in this case. It should also have him on the inside track for a space in the closing lineup. He'll have to shoot well enough to keep it—he shot just 32.2 percent from three this past season but was at 40.2 percent the year prior—but he has the tools, talent and tenacity to grab this spot and never let it go.