Over three weeks have passed since the official start of NBA free agency, and the Los Angeles Lakers still haven’t done anything — at all. Not only did rumored free agent targets such as Klay Thompson, DeMar DeRozan and Gary Trent Jr. reject the Lakers’ advances, but the team lost two key contributors — forward Taurean Prince and guard Spencer Dinwiddie.
The team’s roster now looks a little weaker than the one it won 47 games and lost in the first round of the playoffs with this past season.
A trade is the Lakers’ only option to get better and improve the supporting cast around LeBron James and Anthony Davis. There are still some intriguing options available on the trade market, including the Brooklyn Nets’ Cameron Johnson.
A number of teams are rumored to be interested in trading for him, including the Purple and Gold.
Via New York Post:
“In what was viewed as a down year — slogging through adductor, ankle, calf, leg and shoulder injuries — Johnson still averaged 13.4 points and 4.3 rebounds in 58 games,” wrote Brian Lewis.
“He shot 39.1 percent from deep, just off his 39.2 career mark.
“His size (6-foot-8), age (28) and shooting ability combine to make Johnson valuable. Only 10 NBA players 6-7 or taller averaged more than his 2.4 made 3-pointers last season.
“While the [Sacramento] Kings, [Orlando] Magic and Lakers are interested, one recent report claimed the [San Antonio] Spurs, [Toronto] Raptors or [Golden State] Warriors could be a ‘dark horse.'”
A 3-and-D wing is one of L.A.’s biggest needs, and Johnson seems to fit the bill. The team lacked defensive ball pressure and the ability to slow down star wings on that end of the floor, and he could greatly help in those areas.
Johnson is under contract for three more seasons at $23.6 million, $21.57 million and $23.6 million. It would be interesting to see how much capital Brooklyn demands in return, especially in terms of draft picks.