3 Players Lakers Can Target to Convince LeBron James of Championship Dreams

LeBron James is stuck in a transition phase with the Los Angeles Lakers. He does not have time on his hands and wants to compete for a title. However, the franchise is gearing towards building a solid foundation to be competitive down the line.

Their offseason moves so far indicate they are building a young squad around Luka Doncic. Admittedly, Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia do not reek of elite talent, but they are pieces that the Lakers can hope to develop as the season progresses.

The franchise also traded up to draft Adou Thiero, another developmental prospect. All of these moves are not enough to bring a championship this season. That is where the 40-year-old is at odds with the team, and has hinted he could leave if he feels the team is not capable.

The Lakers still need a players or two to complete their roster. There are a few options available, but GM Rob Pelinka has to be sensible to not spend over the odds just to satisfy his leading superstar. However, there are options, even good ones, which can convince LeBron James of their championship intentions, and one that does not involve them shipping out a lot of future assets.

Bradley Beal could be the perfect pop-and-shoot companion to LeBron James

A few weeks ago, the name Bradley Beal would have sent the hairs on the back of Rob Pelinka to stand up. His colossal contract and no-trade clause would have made it an extremely expensive affair. The Phoenix Suns wanted to trade him, and hence would have asked for a ransom.

Now, his situation is completely different. After trading away Kevin Durant, it dawned on Beal that he needs to leave on his own terms rather than be sent to a team he does not want to be on. The 32-year-old is on the verge of a contract buyout, which means, he will be a free agent.

On top of that, he will be cheap, considering the bulk of his $53 million salary will be paid by the Suns. This makes him a viable candidate. The Missouri native can slot alongside the ball dominant Luka Doncic, and LeBron James.

He can be the perfect pop-and-shoot guard alongside these playmakers. All he has to do is to shoot at his career percentages, and the Lakers will be fine. There are rumors that the Los Angeles Clippers are courting him, therefore, Pelinka could slide in a meeting in the city before he catches his next flight.

Malcolm Brogdon is a good 2-way guard to complement LeBron James

32-year-old Malcolm Brogdon is a free agent guard waiting to sign with a contender. The last three years, he was just a trade asset. Now, he probably wants to be at a place of his choosing, and knowing he wants to win a title, the Los Angeles Lakers could be the perfect landing spot.

The former 6th Man of the Year is an excellent perimeter defender and scorer. His 2-way ability will be a great fit beside LeBron James. Unlike Bradley Beal, the Atlanta native will not demand a starting role. Therefore, he will just do what he is told.

Despite all those advantages, Malcolm Brogdon’s health issues are well documented. Other than his rookie season, on an average, the 6′ 4″ guard has only played in 48 games a season. The worst was the last one where he played in a career low 24 games.

The Lakers, though, could use this as a bargaining tool and sign him at a low and comfortable price. Then they can rotate his minutes to keep him healthy for the most important stretch of the season.

Bring back Lonnie Walker IV

Other than Bradley Beal and Malcolm Brogdon, there is a pool of competent guards who the Los Angeles Lakers could target. Jared Butler, De’Anthony Melton, and possibly Gary Payton II are available. Then there are Chris Paul, Malik Beasley, and Russell Westbrook.

The last three will be a major surprise. Paul might want to play alongside close friend LeBron James, but might be a bit slow at this stage. Beasley has a betting investigation hanging on his head, and will be expensive. Westbrook is a big no-no after his tumultuous end to his previous stint.

This leaves Lonnie Walker IV as a viable target. The 6′ 4″ guard had his best year statistically playing significant minutes on a severely depleted Philadelphia 76ers squad. Moreover, he was a fan favorite at the Crypto.com arena, and was on good terms with James.

Most importantly, he will be a bargain compared to Bradley Beal and Malcolm Brogdon, and his relaxed nature will be a welcome change in a locker room that is looking to build chemistry. However, he is streaky, and needs reps to build confidence. Still, he is a better choice than the other free agent options.

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