This summer will be a very important one for the Los Angeles Lakers when it comes to their quest to become championship contenders again. They're projected to have roughly $50 million of salary cap space, and they should have a prime opportunity to truly build a team that will complement new franchise player Luka Doncic.
They can either push all their chips in the middle and go after Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, or they can use their resources to bring in a couple of very solid non-stars who would considerably move the needle. The Lakers' biggest need is one or two athletic two-way players at the wing or forward spots, and it appears they're very aware of that need.
According to an ESPN report by Dave McMenamin, the franchise has discussed going after Andrew Wiggins, Peyton Watson and Tari Eason this summer, and there are also a few other players on their radar.
"An unrestricted free agent who has been discussed internally, sources told ESPN, is Andrew Wiggins, but he has a player option with Miami he could exercise. Tobias Harris, Quentin Grimes and Dean Wade are other players who fit that profile.
"The Lakers have also privately discussed restricted free agents Tari Eason and Peyton Watson, sources told ESPN, and could land the latter if Denver, which already has $215 million in salary committed to returning players for next season, doesn't match the offer sheet."
Los Angeles was already very interested in trading for Wiggins this past summer, but the Miami Heat reportedly demanded too much in return. He is averaging 15.9 points and shooting 47.1% from the field and 39.5% from 3-point range this season, and he has a reputation as a plus defender.
The 30-year-old Wiggins (he will turn 31 later this month) won an NBA championship with the Golden State Warriors in 2022.
Eason, who is 6-foot-8 and 215 pounds and can play both forward spots, is averaging 12.2 points and 6.1 rebounds in 25.4 minutes a game for the Houston Rockets, and he's making 46% of his 3-point attempts. Watson has blossomed this season for the Denver Nuggets and is putting up 14.9 points per game while shooting 49.6% overall and 41.7% from downtown. He's originally from the Southland and spent one year at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Eason and Watson, however, will be restricted free agents, so landing them won't be easy and could require a bit of an overpay.
In terms of backcourt options, Grimes could be an interesting one. He started to show promise as a member of the New York Knicks a few years ago, and the 6-foot-4 guard has become a key member of a strong Philadelphia 76ers backcourt rotation.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers have privately discussed going after several two-way wings