In the summer of 2023, the Los Angeles Lakers will have a lot on their minds.The fact that they have a wage ceiling suggests that they have a lot of leeway, and the ongoing speculation about LeBron James’ impending retirement is stirring things up inside the company. Los Angeles must make a major push the next season to avoid James turning 40 and perhaps retiring permanently, especially in light of Anthony Davis’ inability to maintain his health and manage a team by himself. For the benefit of their future, the Purple and Gold must decide which players to hold onto and who to let go.
Rob Pelinka and the management group must assemble the squad and only pay players who are worthy of donning the storied uniform in order for the Lakers to actually develop into a title contender as soon as feasible, given the abundance of possibilities available to them. The team’s star players are undoubtedly LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but with so many players vying for playing time, cash, and long-term contracts, Pelinka needs to make sure he does everything correctly this summer. The Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, and Memphis Grizzlies are just a few of the numerous teams that the Lakers must improve their roster to compete with in the Western Conference.
Here are the players who will depart and remain with the Lakers for the 2023–24 NBA season, without further ado. There are just a few players who the Lakers will happily pay any price for, but it is never simple to decide which guys deserve to be Laker players next season. Due to the nature of the NBA and the famous Purple and Gold uniforms, which are only appropriate for the greatest, the majority of the Lakers players won’t be on the team the next season.
Players That Will Leave The Lakers This Summer
Cole Swider
Cole Swider was a 24-year-old rookie during the 2022-23 NBA season and did not get much of a chance to show what he can do. He only appeared in seven games and averaged 1.3 PPG in 5.9 MPG of action. The 6’9” small forward has size but will probably not be on the team because the Lakers need to pick and choose their roster wisely this summer.
Shaquille Harrison
Shaquille Harrison was signed by the Los Angeles Lakers for roster reasons, and he has already spent five years in the NBA. The 6’4″ guard, nevertheless, was unable to play a single minute for the Lakers, and it is likely that he will not have the opportunity the following season either. Harrison’s greatest season was with the Portland Trail Blazers the previous season, where he averaged 8.8 points per game and 6.0 rebounds. At almost thirty years old, he probably won’t have another opportunity to play with such stats.
Davon Reed
Davon Reed has spent three seasons as an NBA player after being acquired by Los Angeles in the Denver Nuggets trade. It’s possible that Reed, an energetic guard who hustles for every loose ball, may sign with a different team for the upcoming year. The Lakers won’t have space for Reed to return, so his agent will need to make sure he finds a new place for him to play next season.
Sterling Brown
Sterling Brown is an above-average shooter, but he doesn’t do much else. The shooting guard is averaging 36.3% from three over his career and has three seasons of shooting at least 40%. Brown only appeared in four games this year with the Lakers and did not do much, as he did not score a single point. At 28 years old, it’s too soon to call it quits on his career, but it is with the Lakers.
Tristan Thompson
Even if his finishing around the basket and quickness have declined, Tristan Thompson will always be able to play excellent defence. The big guy tried to shut down Nikola Jokic in the Western Conference Finals, but it’s probable he won’t return the next year. The centre, who has been in the headlines for reasons other than his basketball skills, is 32 years old and has probably reached the end of his career.
Scotty Pippen Jr.
With a fantastic basketball legacy, Scotty Pippen Jr., a 22-year-old forward, has a tonne of potential. Alongside Michael Jordan in Chicago, his father, Scottie Pippen, was a powerful two-way player who enjoyed considerable success. Being a 6’3″ point guard, Pippen Jr. shares some of his father’s basketball acumen, and he could be seeking a chance to play more minutes. A second-year player is too valuable to a contending team like the Lakers, and he probably won’t return.
Troy Brown Jr
Because Troy Brown Jr. has made 35.4% of his three-pointers in his career, he is regarded as a valuable role player in the NBA today. Because of his fast release and lack of need for much room to fire, the sniper may be searching for the biggest payday this summer. Although Brown Jr. won’t be compensated like a mid-level player, he will depart the Los Angeles Lakers if he is offered a longer-term contract somewhere.
Mo Bamba
Malik Beasley
Similar to Mo Bamba, Malik Beasley will have suitors who want a chance to acquire a sharpshooter. For a trade that could involve Kyrie Irving, among other stars, Beasley and his $16.5 million team option could be a great trade asset. Beasley is averaging 37.8% from deep over his career, which means he knows how to get hot from the perimeter. Many teams need more shooting, and a player this accurate from the three could mean the Lakers can engage in trade negotiations for an All-Star talent.
Dennis Schroder
After scoring 15 points in the fourth quarter of Game 4 of the series against the Golden State Warriors, Lonnie Walker IV gained a lot of notoriety. Walker IV is an excellent defensive wing and long-range shooter who can provide significant value to teams that require two-way play. Aside from his breakout effort against the Golden State Warriors, Walker did not have much of an impact in the postseason after averaging 11.7 points per game on 36.5% shooting from three during the regular season. Teams would likely want to sign Walker to longer contracts, so the Lakers may not be able to re-sign him at a price that works for everyone.
Lonnie Walker IV
After scoring 15 points in the fourth quarter of Game 4 of the series against the Golden State Warriors, Lonnie Walker IV gained a lot of notoriety. Walker IV is an excellent defensive wing and long-range shooter who can provide significant value to teams that require two-way play. Aside from his breakout effort against the Golden State Warriors, Walker did not have much of an impact in the postseason after averaging 11.7 points per game on 36.5% shooting from three during the regular season. Teams would likely want to sign Walker to longer contracts, so the Lakers may not be able to re-sign him at a price that works for everyone.
D’Angelo Russell
Although D’Angelo Russell is a gifted offensive player, he isn’t exactly Los Angeles’ best option for a future Big Three. His averages in the regular season were 17.8 PPG and 6.2 APG, which was good, but in the postseason, he dropped to 13.3 PPG and 4.6 APG. The 27-year-old former All-Star still has a lot of years left in him, so the Lakers can package him for Kyrie Irving, if he’s interested. Russell may be traded as soon as this summer since he will never be able to match the consistency that other All-Star guards can provide.
