Should Struggling Lakers Pursue Free-Agent Signings amid Latest NBA Rumors?
Who are the Los Angeles Lakers going to trade, who will they get in return and when is it going to happen? Those are the questions many are asking during the Lakers' disappointing 3-10 start to the 2022-23 NBA campaign.
For good reason. Los Angeles' season is quickly heading in the wrong direction. And with each loss, it will become less likely that the team gets back to the playoffs after missing out last season.
But that's not the only way the Lakers can improve their roster. They could also scour the free-agent market for potential additions who could help fill some of the squad's holes.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, that's what Los Angeles may have been doing of late. Stein recently reported that the Lakers have "looked at free agents for a potential in-season roster boost."
Among those players were guard Tony Snell and forwards Maurice Harkless and Joe Wieskamp, per Stein. However, it doesn't seem like any of them signing with Los Angeles is imminent.
"The sense I got after spending the past week in L.A. is that their preference is to wait for the returns of Dennis Schroder and Thomas Bryant before making judgments that could lead to changes," Stein wrote.
Neither Schroder nor Bryant has played yet this season after both underwent thumb surgery. So it makes sense that the Lakers may want to see how their rotation looks with those two key players in the mix, which could be soon. Mike Trudell of the team's official website reported that Schroder and Bryant may both be back in action for Friday's game against the Detroit Pistons.
It's also worth noting that any potential free-agent acquisition for Los Angeles isn't likely to be someone who will be playing a large number of minutes. The players who the Lakers reportedly looked at would likely be further down the bench and wouldn't make that much of an impact, especially if Schroder and Bryant return and stay healthy.
That's not to say Los Angeles shouldn't make any in-season moves. It just may make more sense for it to explore the trade market so its roster can undergo more substantial changes.
If the Lakers believe they can stay in the playoff race, maybe they'd decide they're willing to part with more draft picks. If they can't, perhaps they try to acquire more draft capital. Either way, they may want to move point guard Russell Westbrook, who hasn't been a great fit in their lineup over the past two seasons.
Would a free-agent signing make Los Angeles' bench deeper? Yes. But that's not the type of move that's likely to spark a huge turnaround for the team.
That's not saying the Lakers shouldn't consider bringing in any of those types of players. But they need to make a bigger move than that, or else it's becoming clear how the rest of this season is likely to go.
