The Los Angeles Lakers could sign Damian Lillard to give them another superstar guard after he was shockingly released by the Bucks to make room for Myles Turner. LeBron pressured the front office to make a splash. A future Hall of Famer and a member of the NBA 75 is now available and already being paid by Milwaukee. The Lakers love to chase superstar and this is their chance to get one at the lowest cost possible.
Lillard tore his Achilles in the playoff and will likely miss the entire 2025-26 season. There are questions about the 34-year-old’s health, but he just averaged 24.9 points, 7.1 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 36.1 minutes per game before the injury. Those are elite numbers, and Dame is from California.
There would be significant fit questions, including having to wait a full year to get production, but a team will sign him quickly. The Lakers should be that franchise because it is the chance to land a premier talent at a bargain rate.
Lakers could add Damian Lillard after he was waived by the Bucks
It was a rough start to the Lakers' offseason. Dorian Finney-Smith departed in free agency with zero return, and the Lakers have failed to address their biggest weakness. King James wanted LA to improve and all they have done is sign a 3-and-D wing on a bargain contract. Not exactly the recipe to jumping into serious contention.
The Lakers need time to build their roster around Luka Doncic. Signing Dame on a multiple-year minimum or cheap contract gives LA the opportunity to have three stars and enough money to build out their roster. This could be their path to a championship even with the defensive questions of playing Doncic and Lillard together.
Nobody expected this to happen. The Bucks looked trapped, but a bold move was necessary after Giannis Antetokounmpo applied more pressure. Signing Myles Turner meant waiving Dame. Now, the nine-time All-Star is readily available and free to sign with any franchise.
Lillard played his first 11 years in Portland and could return to the West Coast to play for the most popular franchise in the world. That could be a beneficial move for both sides. Lillard can rehab with the Lakers as he prepares to return at the start of the 2026-27 season, and the LA gets a star without paying him $40-plus million per year. The Lakers have to consider it.
The Los Angeles Lakers have work to do. They must find a starting center and keep improving their roster around Luka and LeBron. Damian Lillard is the best free agent available. The signing could end in disaster, but LA must kick the tires. This is their chance to get a game-changer nobody expected.