Lakers Rumors: Playing Fact or Fiction with Latest Buzz Ahead of NBA Free Agency
The Los Angeles Lakers are already ankle-deep into the 2024 NBA offseason, but they'll take a full plunge sooner than later.
The draft is on this week's docket, and free agency will follow in the next.
As one might imagine, the rumor mill is absolutely buzzing in the basketball world, and the Purple and Gold are—predictably—responsible for a lot of that activity. But how many of these rumblings actually matter? Well, we'll break down three of the latest Lakers' rumors and use the always reliable smell test to separate fact from fiction.
Lakers Eyeing Bigs?
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The rumor: The Lakers are "closely monitoring the center position this offseason," per SNY's Ian Begley.
The verdict: Probably fact, but maybe not super meaningful.
The Lakers previously won big with double-big lineups, as the 2019-20 title team often featured a center alongside Anthony Davis. L.A. looked to recreate this look last summer by adding Christian Wood and Jaxson Hayes, and since neither addition really panned out, it'd hardly be surprising to see additional attempts.
But what level of investment are the Lakers really weighing here? Would they trade for a big, target one with the No. 17 pick or dip into whatever non-minimum money they're able to spend in free agency? Or is this an area they'd only address in the bargain bin?
LeBron Opting Out?
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The rumor: LeBron James plans to decline his $51.4 million player option and become an unrestricted free agent, per Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times.
The verdict: Least surprising fact of the summer.
If James were bound by the same mortality rules as the rest of us, then the idea of him opting out of that kind of coin for his age-40 campaign should be absurd.
However, the King improbably hasn't lost his crown yet, so he could duck out of this deal and conceivably sign something more favorable. A two-year pact with a no-trade clause and perhaps an option for a third season is a more than reasonable outcome to his almost assuredly forthcoming free-agency adventure.
Dejounte Murray Back on the Radar?
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The rumor: The Lakers could rekindle their pursuit of Dejounte Murray, per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.
The verdict: Not fiction, but not the likeliest scenario.
The Atlanta Hawks are a summer fire-sale candidate, and it's possible they wind up shipping out both Murray and Trae Young. Given L.A.'s need for shooting, shot-creation and playmaking, either could be a target, although Murray's cheaper salary and far superior defense could make him the preferred choice.
All of that said, it's unclear the Lakers are even in the market for a third star, and if they are, it would seem a bit strange for them to heavily a pursue a player they seemingly could've had in February. If they're pooling together all of their best trade chips, they're likely aiming for more of a marquee name than Murray. If they aren't, they probably aren't plucking him away from the Hawks.
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