Lakers News: Multiple Experts Believe LA Had Best Offseason In NBA
Though a panel of experts agreed the Spurs won the 2023 offseason through their ability to draft Victor Wembanyama, the Lakers' summer moves can't be ignored in such an argument.
After an eventful NBA draft, free agency signings and trades made across the league, Los Angeles received some consideration for offseason champions due to their work to bolster their roster.
Golden State received multiple votes for retaining Draymond Green, adding Chris Paul and trading Jordan Poole, while the arguments for the Bucks and Lakers both came down to retaining key free agents. "[Austin] Reaves on that contract alone is a good offseason," a West scout said of the Lakers' summer. "[Gabe] Vincent is a solid player ... but when you get a guy that good on that contract, that's huge."
GM Rob Pelinka learned from his mistakes on the Russell Westbrook trade and opted to build depth around his superstar duo of Lebron James and Anthony Davis rather than press on with three big contracts.
As a result, Austin Reaves' bigger role to end the 2023 season into the playoffs was rewarded with a new four-year extension where he'll be locked as the Lakers' starting shooting guard.
The front office also brought back trade deadline pieces D'Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura on multi-year deals in another display of trusting their playoff roster's continuity.
Though they lost some playoff pieces in Dennis Schroder and Lonnie Walker IV, the aforementioned Vincent, Christian Wood and Taurean Prince will all fill in the gaps for a Lakers team that wants another title.
As James and Davis are both in their 30s, the time is now for the joint leader in championship banners to hang another with their new core for 2024.
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