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The LA Lakers have been mentioned in a plethora of NBA rumors of late. The 17-time NBA champions endured a difficult 2020-21 season.
They lost to the Phoenix Suns in round one of the 2021 NBA Playoffs, subsequently failing in their quest to win back-to-back titles. The upcoming offseason is going to be crucial for the LA Lakers in their roster-building process.
The two biggest needs the Lakers are looking to address this offseason are adding more 3-point shooters and a playmaker to their squad. A lot of the top stars have been linked with the Purple and Gold as a result.
Most of these players either boast sublime playmaking abilities, or long-range shooting, or both. Not everyone would be a perfect fit alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis, though. On that note, we list the top five players linked with the LA Lakers and also analyze whether they fit well with the team's two leading stars.
LA Lakers' rumors: The top players linked
#5 Buddy Hield
Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield was the latest to be linked with the LA Lakers. Hield is one of the best 3-point shooters in the league. As mentioned earlier, the Lakers are looking to improve their perimeter shooting, and Hield appears to be a viable option.
Hield has shot 40.3% from the three-point line in his career on 7.4 attempts per contest. He is coming off a season where he has shot 282 threes (4 per game), the second-highest tally for a player in the 2020-21 NBA campaign. This would definitely help LeBron James and Anthony Davis in particular.
That's because Buddy Hield will likely force opposing defenses to be more alert on the perimeter, which will open up driving lanes for LeBron and AD to attack the rim. The LA Lakers' two stars have terrific court vision and can create many open looks for Hield. It will ease the scoring burden on them and provide the team with a great offense.
#4 DeMar DeRozan
DeMar DeRozan is one of the few players who, as per NBA rumors, is intrigued by the idea of playing for the LA Lakers. The California-born All-Star has never gotten the chance to play for any of his 'home' teams in the league. DeRozan's fit with the Lakers is questionable, though.
He is a terrific scorer and can provide the team with 20 points per game consistently. However, he operates best from 2-point range and is a below-par three-point shooter.
That would eat up LeBron James and Anthony Davis' space on offense. The LA Lakers' two stars generally score the majority of their points from mid-range.
DeRozan's playmaking improved last season, and that could be something the LA Lakers may consider if they choose to pursue him in free agency. But there are better playmakers in the market than the former Toronto Raptors forward. It could play a role in the Lakers opting against pursuing him in the offseason.
#3 Kyle Lowry
As per NBA rumors, along with DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry is also a player that is interested in joining the LA Lakers. Lowry will be an unrestricted free agent and is one of the most coveted point guards in the market.
Despite being 36 years old, Lowry is still considered an invaluable asset on a title-contending team. His numbers from last season prove just that. He averaged 17.2 points, 7.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game in the 2020-21 NBA campaign. Lowry also shot 39.6% from the three-point line on 7.2 attempts per game.
Lowry is an ideal fit to play alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. He covers the Lakers' two biggest needs as he is a solid playmaker and a remarkable three-point shooter.
His addition will allow the Lakers' two All-Stars to play more forward and not worry much about running the team's offense themselves on every play.
#2 Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook has been named in multiple NBA rumors in the past linking him with the LA Lakers. His name has popped up once again. Recent reports even suggest that the Lakers are 'developing traction' in their pursuit of a trade for him.
Westbrook has an excellent relationship with Anthony Davis and LeBron James off the court. But will the trio combine to form a title-contending team? It is arguable.
That's because the Washington Wizards point guard isn't one of the best shooters in the NBA. However, his playmaking, scoring and rebounding is something that could help the LA Lakers.
He is quite ball-dominant, though, which raises questions about his fit alongside someone like LeBron James. James generally takes care of the ball on the teams he plays for.
The Lakers front-office and coaching staff will have to think long and hard about acquiring Westbrook, as he won't be coming in cheap. He is owed $44 million for the next season.
Nonetheless, if the Lakers can add lethal shooters, with LeBron and Westbrook figuring out a way to share the ball, adding the latter would turn out to be a great deal.
#1 Chris Paul
Almost a decade after Chris Paul's trade to the LA Lakers was vetoed, NBA rumors have started to circulate that Paul may end up in LA next season.
However, the financials of the deal could be a stumbling block. Paul is widely expected to decline his $44 million player option. He will become an unrestricted free agent after that and is seeking a $100 million multi-year deal from the Phoenix Suns.
The LA Lakers are over the salary cap and cannot sign him using cap room in free agency. Even if LA offers a sign-and-trade deal, it is unlikely the Phoenix Suns will agree to it as both sides play in the same conference.
However, veteran NBA insiders continue to maintain that the Lakers are a threat to the Suns' hopes of re-signing Chris Paul. A key reason that could play a role in that is Paul's close relationship with his long-time friend LeBron James. The pair has known each other since before they started playing in the NBA.
The duo, along with Anthony Davis, could wreak havoc if they play on the same team. Paul has shown a tendency to adapt to new teams quickly. His playmaking is something that would give the LA Lakers a dynamic edge on offense.
Paul is one of the purest point guards in the NBA. He knows how to involve every player on the court. This trait is something the Lakers can benefit from immensely. LeBron and Davis can operate more forward and center, while the former and CP3 can use their high-basketball IQs to great effect when creating plays on offense.
Not only will the LA Lakers be dominant physically, but they will also become one of the most intelligent teams in the NBA. It will make them an unstoppable force, barring any major injury setbacks.
