The Lakers face a busy summer in 2024, with numerous players potentially leaving, resulting in a massive rebuild.
The Los Angeles Lakers (36-30) are currently ranked 9th in the Western Conference, led by All-Star players LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The King is averaging 25.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game, while Davis is averaging 24.8 points and 12.5 rebounds per game, which is the primary reason the Lakers are hoping to make the playoffs once more via the play-in round.
That being said, this summer is really vital. The Lakers are unlikely to win the NBA championship since the Denver Nuggets are the Western Conference favorites, not to mention the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks in the East. The Lakers’ contract status in the summer of 2024 is quite interesting, and a number of players may depart the organization.
Austin Reaves – Via Trade
2023-24 Season Statistics: 15.8 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 5.5 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Austin Reaves, an undrafted rookie, surprised the Lakers by playing significant minutes in the 2021-22 season. His offensive abilities have greatly improved, but there are concerns about his long-term viability as a third option behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Reaves is good at handling the ball and creating offense, but is he untouchable?
The answer is “no.” The Lakers must go all-in this summer to acquire a third true All-Star, and waiting for the nearly 26-year-old to develop into one is not the best strategy. The Purple and Gold will be brutal this summer, and opponents will rightfully be asking for Reaves.
Rui Hachimura – Via Trade
2023-24 Season Statistics: 12.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Rui Hachimura, another intriguing talent, appears to have reached a plateau. His numbers have not improved since joining the Lakers, despite his obvious talent. The Japanese forward has a reliable mid-range jumper and can compete down low, making him a varied offensive threat.
At 26 years old, Hachimura still has plenty of time to improve his game, albeit he may never reach All-Star rank. That is precisely why the Lakers will want to move him this summer, and why he is not untouchable, because rebuilding teams with top players will gladly accept a young scorer if it means entering the tanking phase.
Jarred Vanderbilt – Via Trade
2023-24 Season Statistics: 5.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Jarred Vanderbilt went from untouchable last season to one of the Lakers’ most desirable trade assets. At nearly 25 years old, Vanderbilt is on a team-friendly contract that pays him less than $13 million per season until 2026-27. He is an above-average defender with height and athleticism at 6’8″, and he may start for a few NBA clubs straight away. The Lakers undoubtedly do not want to utilize athletes, but they must do whatever it takes to form a Big Three, and the youngster might be used for the proper price.
Gabe Vincent – Via Trade
2023-24 Season Statistics: 5.4 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.0 BPG
The Lakers fell into the “Kendrick Nunn” trap when they chose to sign the starting point guard for an overachieving Miami Heat team that reached the NBA Finals. Vincent played an essential part last season, but he has suffered with his health with the Lakers this season. With only 5.4 points and 3.0 assists per game in five appearances this season, the Lakers can’t afford to hope Vincent stays healthy and will use his contract, which pays him $11,000,000 and $11,500,000 over the next two seasons, to sign an All-Star player. Will there be buyers for Vincent’s contract? That’s the question.
Jaxson Hayes – Reject Player Option
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2023-24 Season Statistics: 3.9 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 0.4 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.4 BPG
As we’ll see, Jaxson Hayes is one of the few Lakers who will almost surely decline his player option in order to seek a longer-term contract with any NBA team. Hayes is only 23 years old and is 7’0″, so his potential is still there to be discovered. It would be surprising if no NBA team made a deal for the big man, as he can likely be paid more than his $2,463,946 player option. Acquiring Hayes was a smart move at the beginning of the year, but it has yet to show up on the stat sheet or in the victories column.
Cam Reddish – Reject Player Option
2023-24 Season Statistics: 6.2 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Cam Reddish is not meeting his full potential, and something is wrong with him. He has incredible athleticism, is only 24 years old, and was previously drafted No. 10 overall. However, he has yet to find a home, and it does not appear to be with the Lakers. Reddish will still decline his $2,463,946 player option and seek a long-term contract that earns him the greatest money this summer. There was nothing wrong with Rob Pelinka’s gamble on him, but it hasn’t paid off, and it may be time for them to split ways.
Christian Wood – Reject Player Option
2023-24 Season Statistics: 6.9 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.7 BPG
Some Lakers fans were excited about Christian Wood’s signing, but the big man hasn’t proven to be untouchable. There’s a reason he’s hopped around the NBA in recent seasons, and the Lakers have figured out why. He has a penchant for three-pointers, struggles to defend, and suspicions about his attitude persist. That’s not to imply Wood is a horrible player; he isn’t, but the big man will most likely find a longer-term deal with another team rather than accepting his $3,036,040 player option this summer.
Jalen Hood-Schifino – Via Trade
2023-24 Season Statistics: 1.6 PPG, 0.6 RPG, 0.4 APG, 0.1 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Jalen Hood-Schifino is anticipated to be included in any prospective trade that brings an All-Star to the Lakers. The No. 17 overall pick in the 2023 Draft has potential because he stands 6’6″ and weighs 215 pounds, similar to Taurean Prince, but the Lakers will need to do everything it takes to enhance their roster next season. He only makes $3,879,830 next season, so his deal will be more of a filler than anything else this summer.
Free Agents This Summer
Spencer Dinwiddie
2023-24 Season Statistics: 4.9 PPG, 1.1 RPG, 3.1 APG, 0.4 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Dinwiddie was brought in as a buyout player, and he hasn’t exactly lit the Lakers on fire. Dinwiddie’s fit with the Lakers has previously been called into question, with whispers of age and attrition weighing on the guard. He is only averaging 4.9 points and 3.1 assists per game with the Lakers after 12 games, and he will most certainly leave in free agency if he receives a longer-term contract that exceeds the minimum elsewhere.
Taurean Prince
2023-24 Season Statistics: 9.1 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.6 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Taurean Prince has been a strong player for the Lakers this season, averaging 9.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.8 steals per game while shooting 38.7% from three. Prince has proven to be an excellent starter or bench player, shooting corner threes and running the court. At 6’6″ and 218 lbs, Prince has the size to be an impact wing player, and he has started 49 out of 63 games for the Lakers this season, which could lead to his earning a multi-year deal elsewhere..
Max Christie
2023-24 Season Statistics: 4.7 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Max Christie, selected 35th overall in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Lakers, has not progressed as quickly as Lakers Nation would want. He is only 21 years old, so he still has plenty of time to establish he can play significant minutes for an NBA team, but it may not be with the Lakers after this summer. His numbers are unspectacular; he has only played 15.8 minutes per game this season, and the Lakers likely have more pressing needs than re-signing the teenager to a long-term contract.
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