Lakers' Early 2024 Free Agent Targets
If the Los Angeles Lakers make a splash during the 2024 NBA offseason, it won't happen in free agency.
Unless both LeBron James and D'Angelo Russell decline their player options and exit, the Lakers will likely only have the taxpayer mid-level exception and minimum contracts at their disposal.
That's obviously not enough to nab a difference-maker, but it can bring in some helpful role players. The following three players, for instance, all have something to offer the Purple and Gold and could potentially be had at that price point.
Gary Harris, Orlando Magic (Unrestricted)
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The Lakers have a longstanding need for spacing and should be in the market for more perimeter stoppers.
The best version of Gary Harris checks both boxes.
Now, his scoring and floor time have both tailed off in recent seasons, but that's the only reason he could potentially land within the Purple and Gold's budget. And while sagging stats from a veteran are always at least mildly concerning, he hasn't even turned 30 yet—he will this September—so this isn't necessarily an indication of age-related decline.
He may not have the physical tools of Cam Reddish, but Harris could be a more consistent supplier of the steady defense and shot-making L.A. hoped it would get out of Reddish.
Doug McDermott, Indiana Pacers (Unrestricted)
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The Pacers picked up Doug McDermott at the trade deadline to help replace some of the perimeter shooting they lost when they traded away Buddy Hield.
That plan never came to fruition. While it surely didn't help that he had to navigate around a calf injury, he was uncharacteristically inaccurate when he did play. Over 18 regular-season outings in the Circle City, he shot just 40.6 percent from the field and 32.1 percent from distance.
If teams put a lot of stock into those shooting rates, that could have McDermott falling into the bargain bin. If he does, the Lakers would be wise to snatch him up.
A quarter-season of shaky shooting hardly means he suddenly lost his stroke. He still cleared 40-plus percent from the perimeter this season, making it the sixth time in seven years he hit that mark. Given L.A.'s need for shooters around LeBron James and Anthony Davis, McDermott looks like a natural target.
Kelly Oubre Jr., Philadelphia 76ers (Unrestricted)
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Has Kelly Oubre Jr. played his way out of the Lakers' price range this season? Perhaps. His 15.4 points per game were certainly helpful for a Philly squad that couldn't always find consistent scoring from players not named Joel Embiid or Tyrese Maxey.
Still, it's hard to imagine this season greatly changed Oubre's reputation around the league. Essentially, he just did what he always does: post modestly strong volume scoring numbers on average-ish efficiency: 44.1/31.1/75 shooting.
He isn't a playmaker, hasn't become the defender his physical tools suggest he should be and has never been super dependable shooter from distance. But as an inside-the-arc play-finisher, he is better than average. And when he really dials in defensively, he can be a nuisance on the ball.
He hit free agency last summer after averaging a career-high 20.3 points (albeit on a bad Charlotte Hornets team) and wound up settling for a minimum pact in Philadelphia. If his offers aren't much richer this time around, L.A. could do a lot worse than taking a cheap flier on his athleticism and quick-strike scoring.
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