With a 33-21 record, the Los Angeles Lakers hold the fifth spot in the Western Conference standings. The Lakers' core features Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves.
With Doncic as a top-five contender in the MVP conversation and the 41-year-old James inching closer to retirement, Los Angeles should be in win-now mode. While February's trade deadline has passed, the Lakers will have a chance to add more firepower in the months to come.
Per ESPN's Dave McMenamin, the Lakers have discussed targeting numerous players for the future. Two players are identified in the report.
"Unrestricted free agents who have been discussed internally, sources told ESPN, include Andrew Wiggins and Tari Eason, while Tobias Harris, Quentin Grimes and Dean Wade are other players who fit that profile."
Since being selected with the No. 1 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, Andrew Wiggins has developed into a key starter. The 30-year-old forward is best known for his stint with the Golden State Warriors, earning an All-Star selection and winning an NBA championship in 2022.
Wiggins was traded from Golden State to the Miami Heat earlier this month. He is averaging 15.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game.
Tari Eason was selected with the No. 17 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. He was named to the All-Rookie Second Team in 2023.
Eason continues to serve as a role player for the Houston Rockets. This season, Eason is averaging 12.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
Eason will become a restricted free agent this summer, while Wiggins' current contract expires at the end of the 2026-2027 season.
James' status with the Lakers will be a major contributing factor on how much the team can spend for next season. The 22-time All-Star is earning approximately $52 million annually. If he decides to sign with a different franchise or retire, Los Angeles will be left with extra cap space.
Other upcoming unrestricted free agents include Rui Hachimura, Luke Kennard, and Maxi Kleber. The trio is earning a combined $40 million from the Lakers this season.
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