{"id":18371,"date":"2026-06-27T16:01:38","date_gmt":"2026-06-27T16:01:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=18371"},"modified":"2026-06-27T16:01:38","modified_gmt":"2026-06-27T16:01:38","slug":"nba-free-agency-who-should-the-lakers-target-to-bring-to-l-a","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=18371","title":{"rendered":"NBA free agency: Who should the Lakers target to bring to L.A.?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

NBA free agency doesn\u2019t officially open until Tuesday at 3 p.m. PT, allowing teams to officially negotiate with players on the open market. The offseason, however, is already in full swing.<\/p>\n

Read more Orange County restaurants shut down by health inspectors (June 18-25)<\/a><\/p>\n

The Lakers started shoring up next season\u2019s roster by ending their biggest question mark of the offseason \u2013 signing Austin Reaves to a four-year, $185 million max-level contract to lock up the 28-year-old guard as part of the team\u2019s future alongside Luka Doncic. Outside of Reaves, LeBron James\u2019 potential final free agency decision is the biggest factor the Lakers will face.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s likely the Lakers will look to bring back a pair \u2013 or all three of \u2013 Rui Hachimura, Luke Kennard and Jaxson Hayes, who are unrestricted free agents. But there are other options \u2013 including restricted free agents \u2013 who the Lakers could bring into the fold that could bolster the depth of the roster heading into next season.<\/p>\n

In no particular order, here are five free agency targets from outside the organization who the Lakers should consider when rounding out their 2026-27 roster:<\/p>\n

Forward Peyton Watson, restricted free agent (Denver Nuggets)<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The Long Beach-raised Watson has a high motor and can stretch the floor defensively with his 7-foot wingspan. He has the tools to help the Lakers immediately. Watson, who played one season at UCLA, averaged a career-high 14.6 points per game in his fourth NBA season, playing a career-high 29.6 minutes in 54 games (40 starts) last season.<\/p>\n

Yes, a Grade 2 right hamstring strain kept the 6-foot-8 wing from being a factor at the end of the season \u2013 and led to him sitting out their entire first-round playoff series (a 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves) \u2013 but his tools stand out in a weaker free agency market.<\/p>\n

The Nuggets can match any offer sheet the Lakers, or another team, offers Watson, but they are currently handcuffed by their salary cap space \u2013 likely needing to exceed the highly punitive second apron to retain him. That could allow Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka to swoop in and bring a local product back to Southern California.<\/p>\n

Forward Tari Eason, restricted free agent (Houston Rockets)<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Like Watson, Eason could end up snatched away from the team that drafted him because of salary cap restrictions.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

Eason is coming off a season in which he started a career-high 34 games and averaged 10.5 points and 6.3 rebounds. He was an active part of the playoff rotation that Houston coach Ime Udoka used in a first-round loss to the Lakers.<\/p>\n

At 6-8, carries the kin of brute-post presence the Lakers were missing at times last season, although his height is underwhelming should he be asked to play center in smaller lineups. Still 25 years old, Eason is a plus offensive rebounder who could help boost second-chance opportunities for the likes of Doncic and Reaves and a Lakers team that ranked second to last in the league on the offensive glass.<\/p>\n

Read more Alexander: Has the World Cup exceeded our expectations?<\/a><\/p>\n

Center Kevin Looney, unrestricted free agent<\/strong><\/h4>\n

After a 10-year run with the Golden State Warriors, Looney signed a two-year contract with the New Orleans Pelicans.<\/p>\n

But Looney is set to leave after playing just 21 games for the Pelicans because of injuries and availability issues \u2013 his team option was declined on Friday evening, making him an unrestricted free agent.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

The 6-9 Looney, 30, could be a cheap backup big man option, regardless of whether the Lakers bring back Hayes \u2013 newly a Slovenian citizen to play alongside Doncic internationally \u2013 and could boost their frontcourt depth even though his best days are behind him at this point in his career.<\/p>\n

Forward\/center Sandro Mamukelashvili, unrestricted free agent<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Mamukelashvili opted out of his player option \u2013 at just $2.8 million \u2013 after a career-best season for Toronto, where he averaged 11.2 points and played in 80 regular-season games.<\/p>\n

Entering his sixth year in the league, the Georgian-American big man differentiates from the Lakers\u2019 options in the post \u2013 the ones from last year\u2019s roster or their other offseason options at center \u2013 due to his ability to drain 3-pointers at an efficient clip (38.9%). The 6-9, 240-pounder might not pack much punch, rebounding-wise, but he would space the floor well and help the Lakers\u2019 backcourt flourish.<\/p>\n

Mamukelashvili will likely garner a contract above $10 million per year, but with the Lakers\u2019 cap flexibility, it\u2019s not out of the question that Pelinka could offer that kind of number to a free agent of his quality.<\/p>\n

Guard Quentin Grimes, unrestricted free agent<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Grimes might be outside the Lakers\u2019 budget considering their priorities, and who they\u2019d likely prefer to bring back from last year\u2019s roster \u2013 such as Kennard \u2013 but he would be a swift fit in the rotations for Coach JJ Redick after his stint with the Philadelphia 76ers.<\/p>\n

The 6-4 shooting guard showed sparks of offensive versatility over the past two seasons \u2013 especially at the end of the 2024-25 season, when he averaged 21.9 ppg after being traded from Dallas to Philadelphia.<\/p>\n

If a team like the Lakers could get Grimes to accept a contract for less than $20 million per year, he could be a vital addition to the team\u2019s bench minutes while making occasional starts.<\/p>\n

Read more World Cup: Pochettino has instilled belief within his soccer team, and across the country<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Headlined by Long Beach native Peyton Watson, Lakers beat reporter Benjamin Royer breaks down some of the top options the Lakers should consider as they look to build a championship roster.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18370,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,44],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18371","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-analysis","category-based-on-factual-reporting-although-it-incorporates-the-expertise-of-the-author-and-may-offer-interpretations-and-conclusions"],"yoast_head":"\nNBA free agency: Who should the Lakers target to bring to L.A.? - Silicon Valley Moving Post<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=18371\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"NBA free agency: Who should the Lakers target to bring to L.A.? - Silicon Valley Moving Post\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Headlined by Long Beach native Peyton Watson, Lakers beat reporter Benjamin Royer breaks down some of the top options the Lakers should consider as they look to build a championship roster.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=18371\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Silicon Valley Moving Post\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-06-27T16:01:38+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\\\/?p=18371#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\\\/?p=18371\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/636e2e5a10a21cf87fe6eb5951e8a6b7\"},\"headline\":\"NBA free agency: Who should the Lakers target to bring to L.A.?\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-06-27T16:01:38+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\\\/?p=18371\"},\"wordCount\":893,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\\\/?p=18371#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/eb629d71c2667443fbdbbe1731940bfc.webp\",\"articleSection\":[\"Analysis\",\"Based on factual reporting, although it incorporates the expertise of the author and may offer interpretations and conclusions.\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\\\/?p=18371#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\\\/?p=18371\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\\\/?p=18371\",\"name\":\"NBA free agency: Who should the Lakers target to bring to L.A.? - Silicon Valley Moving Post\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\\\/?p=18371#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\\\/?p=18371#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/eb629d71c2667443fbdbbe1731940bfc.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-06-27T16:01:38+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/636e2e5a10a21cf87fe6eb5951e8a6b7\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\\\/?p=18371#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\\\/?p=18371\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\\\/?p=18371#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/eb629d71c2667443fbdbbe1731940bfc.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/eb629d71c2667443fbdbbe1731940bfc.webp\",\"width\":1024,\"height\":576},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\\\/?p=18371#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"NBA free agency: Who should the Lakers target to bring to L.A.?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"Silicon Valley Moving Post\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/636e2e5a10a21cf87fe6eb5951e8a6b7\",\"name\":\"admin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"admin\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\\\/?author=1\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"NBA free agency: Who should the Lakers target to bring to L.A.? - Silicon Valley Moving Post","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=18371","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"NBA free agency: Who should the Lakers target to bring to L.A.? - Silicon Valley Moving Post","og_description":"Headlined by Long Beach native Peyton Watson, Lakers beat reporter Benjamin Royer breaks down some of the top options the Lakers should consider as they look to build a championship roster.","og_url":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=18371","og_site_name":"Silicon Valley Moving Post","article_published_time":"2026-06-27T16:01:38+00:00","author":"admin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"admin","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=18371#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=18371"},"author":{"name":"admin","@id":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/#\/schema\/person\/636e2e5a10a21cf87fe6eb5951e8a6b7"},"headline":"NBA free agency: Who should the Lakers target to bring to L.A.?","datePublished":"2026-06-27T16:01:38+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=18371"},"wordCount":893,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=18371#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/eb629d71c2667443fbdbbe1731940bfc.webp","articleSection":["Analysis","Based on factual reporting, although it incorporates the expertise of the author and may offer interpretations and conclusions."],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=18371#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=18371","url":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=18371","name":"NBA free agency: Who should the Lakers target to bring to L.A.? - Silicon Valley Moving Post","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=18371#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=18371#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/eb629d71c2667443fbdbbe1731940bfc.webp","datePublished":"2026-06-27T16:01:38+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/#\/schema\/person\/636e2e5a10a21cf87fe6eb5951e8a6b7"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=18371#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=18371"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=18371#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/eb629d71c2667443fbdbbe1731940bfc.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/eb629d71c2667443fbdbbe1731940bfc.webp","width":1024,"height":576},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=18371#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"NBA free agency: Who should the Lakers target to bring to L.A.?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/","name":"Silicon Valley Moving Post","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/#\/schema\/person\/636e2e5a10a21cf87fe6eb5951e8a6b7","name":"admin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"admin"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com"],"url":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?author=1"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18371","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=18371"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18371\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/18370"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=18371"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=18371"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=18371"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}