It's no secret: the Los Angeles Lakers are pursuing perimeter play-making and shooting this offseason. Simultaneously, they're looking to ease the ball-handling burden around LeBron James and create more space for James and Anthony Davis to operate.
A bona fide third star would be ideal, but the Lakers' lack of cap flexibility and blue-chip assets render that challenging. However, two high-profile names on the transaction market, Philadelphia 76ers All-Star Ben Simmons, 24, and New Orleans Pelicans restricted free agent Lonzo Ball, 23, have, naturally, been linked to Los Angeles this summer.
According to the latest newsletter from Marc Stein, the latter of the two is the more likely candidate to wind up (back) in L.A., though it's far from a certainty.
“Scratch the Los Angeles Lakers from the list of feasible Simmons destinations,” Stein writes. “…Yet it's worth noting that inevitable rumbles of Lakers interest would not merely emanate from Simmons’ status as a Paul client like LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Word is that the Lakers, on top of their well-chronicled need for more shooting, covet one more difference-making playmaker who would allow James and Davis to spend more time at power forward and center.”
Stein adds that even if the Lakers were willing to offer 20-year old Talen Horton-Tucker (a restricted free agent) via sign-and-trade and 25-year old Kyle Kuzma (owed $13 million in 2021-22), 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey — who reportedly covets an All-Star in return — won't be interested. (The Lakers can deal the No. 22 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft and their 2027 first-rounder).
Ben Simmons is a clunky fit for a Lakers offense devoid of breathing room and spot-up shooting. Yet, his contract (four years, $147 million-ish remaining), age, and pedigree make him uniquely attainable and understandably intriguing for any organization seeking to Win Now and upgrade talent and dynamism.
Plus, both Simmons and Ball can more-than-aptly run the point, with or without James on the floor.
In general, the notion of giving LeBron and Davis more minutes at the 4 and 5, respectively, should be welcome to hear for Lakers fans. Those lineups always kill, the 5 was a weak spot in 2020-21, and the Lakers aren't going to find anyone better than Davis at the position. Rather, they're facing another campaign with Marc Gasol, Andre Drummond, and/or a different veteran on a minimum contract (Dwight Howard?)
Historically, AD has resisted playing the 5 due to the physical toll.
“I like playing the 4,” he admitted at his introductory press conference with the Lakers. “I’m not even going to sugarcoat it. I like playing the 4, I don’t really like playing the 5.”
To be fair, in his next sentence, he said he would do whatever head coach Frank Vogel asked, and he has repeated that tune for two years. His preference was clear, though, and the Lakers have largely respected their superstar's preference until the playoffs.
It's plausible that, after an injury-riddled season in which he played roughly 90 percent of his minutes at the 4, the Lakers and Davis have assessed that more time inside and less time slicing and dicing through the defense could benefit him in the long run. Ditto for James, who is, of course, awesome at power forward, and just posted his highest usage rate since 2015.
As for Lonzo Ball — who was drafted No. 2 by the Lakers in 2017 and played two seasons in L.A. before being included in the Anthony Davis trade — the Lakers are motivated to re-acquire the former UCLA Bruin.
“Expect to eventually hear of them searching for potential pathways, however obstacle-strewn they would be, to reacquiring restricted free agent-to-be Lonzo Ball for that reason,” Stein writes.
Ball checks multiple boxes. He's still young, he's steadily improved his three-point accuracy and volume since his rookie season, and has even more dramatically improved his free-throw shooting. In 2020-21, he averaged a career-best 16.5 points and 9.4(!) three-point attempts per-36 minutes. He made nearly 38% of the triples. By comparison, Dennis Schroder made under 34% of his 3.4 threes-per-36 last season.
The improved shooting, along with his ability to push the tempo, generate ball movement, and defend at a high level, is justifiably enticing to the Lakers. However, as Stein put it, the path to a Lonzo-Lakers reunion is “obstacle-strewn.”
The Athletic reported on Tuesday that the Pelicans are “unlikely to match a significant offer” for Ball, which some have speculated could land in the Malcolm Brogdon/Fred VanVleet/Maybe Schroder $85 million range, though Eastern Conference squads with cap space like the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls could happily overpay. The Los Angeles Clippers will pursue him, too, per Shams.
The Lakers have essentially no way of signing Ball outright. Even before re-signing any one of their 10 free agents, L.A. is bordering the luxury tax threshold.
Therefore, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka will have to pursue a sign-and-trade, which comes with its own set of complications. One would assume a deal with the Pelicans would have to involve Schroder, Kuzma, and some combination of draft picks, Horton-Tucker, Alex Caruso, or Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ($13 million). It may require the participation of a third team, too.
On paper, L.A. may be willing to strike a deal, then award Ball up to $20-22 million annually. But, sign-and-trades require the approval of impending free agents — such as Ball, Schroder, THT, Caruso (the latter two, and Kuzma, Pelinka has stated a desire to keep). Considering Schroder's oft-stated intentions about exploring free agency and the potential bull market for Ball and Horton-Tucker, that approval is not guaranteed.
Furthermore, acquiring a player via sign-and-trade triggers a hard cap for the upcoming season, meaning the Lakers would be even less financially flexible going forward. Not to mention the collaborative effort that would be needed between two front offices that may not be on the best of terms in the aftermath of the Davis saga.
On the other hand, it would behoove the Pelicans to push for a trade rather than lose Ball for nothing to a franchise with ample cap room.
Regardless if they can land Lonzo, based on the finances and tea leaves, I'd be surprised if the Lakers run it back with Schroder, Caruso, and THT in the backcourt next season. (The reported intent of improving the third-banana role could hint at their true feelings about Dennis Schroder's impact.) At some point, they will acquire another play-maker — be it Kyle Lowry, Collin Sexton, Spencer Dinwiddie, DeMar DeRozan, Kemba Walker, Derrick White, Buddy Hield, or somebody else (I'm ruling out Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal…for now).
Encouragingly, the Lakers seem to be looking in the right direction. Plus the idea of embracing LeBron/AD at the 4/5 is promising. Whatever happens: things are about to get real interesting around here.
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