NBA exec hits Lakers with bad news before FA even begins

The Los Angeles Lakers have a major offseason ahead of them, as they are positioned to build around Luka Doncic, even though several of their key players are set to become free agents.

Austin Reaves (player option), Rui Hachimura, LeBron James, Jaxson Hayes, Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart (player option) and Deandre Ayton (player option) could all be unrestricted free agents this offseason, which could have a major impact for Los Angeles.

On one hand, the Lakers have the ability to open up some cap space to improve their roster. However, they also are at risk of losing some of their most important rotation players, something Los Angeles can’t exactly afford after coming up short in the second round of the playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

While the Lakers should have cap space to chase some additions, one Western Conference executive believes that the team will be “shut out” on restricted free agents, according to Heavy.com’s Sean Deveney.

Players like Walker Kessler (Utah Jazz), Jalen Duren (Detroit Pistons) and Peyton Watson (Denver Nuggets) are all set to be restricted free agents in the offseason and could potentially help the Lakers. But with restricted free agency, the Jazz, Pistons and Nuggets will have chances to match any offer sheets that their players sign, as long as they extend them qualifying offers.

“Walker Kessler of the Jazz is a player the Lakers were poised to make an offer on, one that would force Utah to match, something in the $30 million range,” Deveney wrote. “But there are indications the Jazz won’t be outbid for Kessler (within reason) and that the Lakers would not go that high on him, anyway.

“The same could be said for Jalen Duren in Detroit. It’s true that Duren has had a miserable postseason, and that his status as a max player is in peril. But around the league, the consensus is that the Pistons intend to match offers for him. Even if they don’t go to the max with him themselves, the Pistons still plan to negotiate with Duren directly.

“The Nuggets‘ Peyton Watson is another restricted free agency target for L.A., and probably the most realistic of the three. As good as Watson was in his breakout fourth season–14.6 points, 41.1% 3-point shooting–the Lakers are wary of committing $22-$25 million per year for Watson based on one injury-shortened year.

“The chance goes up if James retires, but the Lakers’ focus is still expected to be at center.”

Los Angeles certainly has a long offseason ahead, but bringing in more quality pieces around Doncic should be priority No. 1 for the franchise as it looks towards the future. James may also decide to return to L.A., but since he is 41 years old, the Lakers would be smart to prioritize Doncic as their main building block going forward.