The Los Angeles Lakers’ quiet, disappointing offseason continues, and there is no sign that they’re even getting close to finally obtaining a player from another team in free agency or via trade.
They reportedly have interest in trading for 2022-23 All-Star big man Lauri Markkanen and center Wendell Carter Jr. However, it would likely take a king’s ransom to land Markkanen, and Carter may not move the needle much.
Another player the Lakers have been looking to get is 3-and-D wing Gary Trent Jr. He is a free agent who made $18.56 million last season with the Toronto Raptors, and he would have to take a pay cut to join Los Angeles as an outright free agent signing.
NBA insider Marc Stein noted that as of now, Trent is not gettable for L.A. because of its salary cap situation.
“One source close to the process cautioned this week that the Lakers, until they can move farther away from the second luxury tax apron, can’t even make a run at Trent … no matter how available he appears to be. The Lakers, remember, are only marginally distanced from the second apron after LeBron James signed a new two-year deal that was less than $3 million shy of the $104 million maximum he could have received.”
Stein added that the Lakers are trying to figure out a way to shed salary, perhaps by moving a couple of players on veteran’s minimum contracts, in order to be able to use their taxpayer mid-level exception. However, they may have to attach at least one second-round draft pick in order to successfully do so.
Trent is the type of player who may not make the Lakers a championship contender but could get them closer to that level. He averaged 13.7 points a game last season, and he has a career accuracy of 38.6 percent from 3-point range. He is also known as a strong defender, and at 6-foot-5, he has a solid 6-foot-9 wingspan.