It's mid-August, which means 2021 NBA Free Agency is just about over.

Of course, like basketball and #NBATwitter, the wheeling and dealing never stops. But once Summer League ends Tuesday, NBA activity will largely drift into a pre-training camp lull.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been the league's most active organization this offseason. They orchestrated a five-team blockbuster that landed them the third star/secondary play-maker they so highly coveted in Russell Westbrook. They brought back four ex-Lakers (all over the age of 32): Dwight Howard, Kent Bazemore, Trevor Ariza, Wayne Ellington — on the veteran's minimum. They inked Carmelo Anthony (another future Hall of Famer) and, somehow, Malik Monk at the minimum. They handed out their taxpayer midlevel exception ($5.9 million) to Kendrick Nunn.

Los Angeles re-signed Talen Horton-Tucker and, curiously, let Alex Caruso walk for luxury tax reasons. Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell, Dennis Schroder, Andre Drummond, Markieff Morris, Alfonzo McKinnie, and Ben McLemore are gone. Marc Gasol is back. Buddy Hield remains on the Sacramento Kings roster.

As for the rookies, the Lakers signed Austin Reaves and Joel Ayayi to two-way contracts and Mac McClung and Chaundee Brown Jr. to training camp deals. (The Summer League Lakers went 2-2 in group play.)

(*Dust Settles*) The Lakers have four returning players from 2020-21 and three roster spots left to fill. On paper, they improved their shooting, perimeter talent, and front-court defense. They sacrificed wing defense, youth, and the benefit of the doubt when it comes to luxury tax prodigality.

Potentially the most significant move of all? LeBron and Anthony Davis's reported commitment to play more 4 and 5, respectively.

Despite all the activity, the work isn't complete. Here's what should be on's Rob Pelinka's to-do list:

1) Re-Sign Wesley Matthews

Frankly, I'm surprised this hasn't happened yet.

The Lakers did leave two roster spots open for buyouts in 2020-21 (Drummond, McLemore), but what are the chances they'll add somebody who can match the impact that Matthews made down the stretch last season?

Matthews struggled with his shot for much of 2021-22 and wasn't always a mainstay in the rotation. During a stressful May, though, he was arguably the team's most clutch role player, even sealing back-to-back wins with last-second heroics.

Matthews, 34, played for $3.6 million (biannual exception) last year, so the minimum ($2.5 million for vets of 10+ years) or slightly above it (they have his Bird rights) should get the job done, financially.

The Lakers could use another wing defender. Matthews offers continuity, leadership, perimeter D, shooting, and the best three-point celebration in the NBA.

2) Pursue a big, possibly one named “Paul Millsap”

I made the Millsap case last week, so I won't re-hash it completely.

The 36-year old four-time All-Star is still a premier positional defender who can knock down the long jumpers that Harrell couldn't. He could step into Morris's role as a reliable, small-ball 5 option with the floor-spacing ability and interior defensive aptitude that exceeds his height.

I'm not sure if he would take the minimum, but there aren't a ton of mid-level exceptions floating around.

3) Pursue one more wing, possibly named Avery Bradley or James Ennis

Bradley seemed like a solid bet to return to L.A. as soon as the Houston Rockets opted not to tender a qualifying offer. Bradley was a key role player in the pre-hiatus 2019-20 championship squad, and he remained in constant communication with the Lakers from afar during their bubble run.

Clearly, there is a mutual attachment there. He's past his prime, but there aren't many better guard defenders left on the market. THT is working on his D, but he's not Caruso, yet.

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Last week, Marc Stein reported that, to the Lakers, “wing depth is more important than a backup guard” and Ennis “is a name that’s been mentioned” within their circles.

Ennis has played for seven teams in seven seasons and has limited experience in high-stakes games. However, considering his athleticism, size (6'6, 215), and shooting prowess (.465/.377/.815 splits in 61 games with the Orlando Magic), the Lakers should be discussing his potential as a bench sparkplug.

J.J. Redick said on his podcast that he won't be signing with a team until later in the season, so that remains a possibility down the road (though my money is on the Brooklyn Nets as an eventual Redick landing spot).

4) Bring back Jared Dudley

Just do it, already!

Dudley gave this a “1,000 percent” chance of happening, and his involvement in the Westbrook recruitment and tight bond with LeBron James have me feeling similarly confident.

The only question is, will he get Udonis Haslem money?