The Los Angeles Lakers were close to creating a lethal Big Three last summer. After acquiring Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans and pairing him with LeBron James, Los Angeles aggressively tried to sign Kawhi Leonard in free agency.
However, Leonard spurned the Lakers and signed with the other team in Los Angeles, the L.A. Clippers. The two-time Finals MVP also convinced Paul George to request a trade from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Clippers.
Whenever the 2020 offseason period officially begins, Davis will become an unrestricted free agent as soon as he declines his 2020-21 player option with the Lakers, though everyone in the NBA fully expects the Chicago native to re-sign with Los Angeles on a long term deal.
There aren't any superstars besides Davis entering free agency in 2020, which means if the Lakers want to get a third maven next to Davis and LeBron, general manager Rob Pelinka will once again have to make a blockbuster trade.
With that said, let's take a look at five players the Lakers can try and acquire in the offseason.
5. John Wall
John Wall missed the entire 2019-20 season for the Washington Wizards recovering from his Achilles tear. The last time we saw the former No. 1 overall pick, he was averaging 20.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 8.7 assists in 2018-19 while shooting 44.4 percent from the field, 30.2 percent from beyond the arc and 69.7 percent from the free-throw line.
Wall signed a four-year, $170 million contract extension with the Wizards in the summer of 2017. The deal kicked in this season. The North Carolina native is scheduled to make $41,254,920 in 2020-21 and $44,310,840 in 2021-22.
Odds are Wall isn't going to be the same explosive player he was before the Achilles tear. However, he's still a better point guard option than anyone on the Lakers and has a strong rapport with Davis and LeBron.
Wall, who will be 30 next season, has career averages of 19.0 points and 9.2 assists in 573 games.
4. Zach LaVine
One of the best young scorers in the game, Zach LaVine would be a perfect fit next to LeBron and Davis on the Lakers. The high-flyer was averaging 25.5 points per game for the Chicago Bulls before the 2019-20 season was suspended due to COVID-19.
Chicago may be open to moving LaVine since he becomes an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2022. There have also been rumors that he's unhappy with the Bulls, though things may change soon once Chicago fires head coach Jim Boylen.
Regardless of the Bulls' situation, Pelinka and the Lakers should give Chicago a call in the summer and see what it would take to pry LaVine away from the Windy City.
3. Chris Paul
The Lakers acquired Chris Paul from the New Orleans Hornets in 2011, but David Stern vetoed the trade. Paul was traded to the Clippers instead and created “Lob City” with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan.
The NBPA president will make $41.4 million in 2020-21 and has a player option worth $44.3 million for the 2021-22 campaign. Paul is still one of the best point guards in the NBA despite his injury history and age. He would undoubtedly make the Lakers unstoppable on offense, particularly in the pick-and-roll/pop game with Davis.
LeBron has been trying to play with CP3 for years. This offseason is a great opportunity for the “Banana Boat” brothers to unite in Los Angeles since the Oklahoma City Thunder could be eager to get off Paul's lucrative contract despite his stellar play in 2019-20.
2. Jrue Holiday
Before the 2019-20 season got suspended, Jrue Holiday was averaging 19.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.9 assists for the Pelicans. The All-NBA defender already has a great relationship with Davis since they were teammates in New Orleans.
Ever since the Pelicans traded Davis, all the talk around New Orleans has been about moving Holiday next.
With that said, Pelinka and the Lakers should take advantage of that and try and reunite Holiday and AD in Los Angeles.
1. Bradley Beal
The Lakers would be smart to inquire about Bradley Beal and offer the house for the All-Star shooting guard. Whatever draft picks and players the Wizards want for Beal, the Lakers should say yes.
After all, Washington isn’t going to ask for LeBron or Davis because they already know what Pelinka will say.
Beal is averaging 30.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.1 assists for the Wizards in 2019-20. If the Lakers were able to get him next to LeBron and Davis, it would be lights out for the rest of the NBA.
Having a sniper such as Beal roaming around the arc and getting open through back screens while LeBron and Davis are working with the ball almost seems unfair.
But that’s not the Lakers’ fault should Pelinka pull off a trade for the St. Louis native.
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