The Los Angeles Lakers are entering the 2024 offseason with their eyes set on improving along the perimeter. Strides were made at the NBA Draft, with reigning SEC Player of the Year Dalton Knecht falling to the Lakers at No. 17 overall.
The need to improve goes beyond incoming rookies such as Knecht and Bronny James, however, and will likely see Los Angeles pursue established talent in free agency.
In addition to James and Knecht, the top wings on the Lakers roster are Rui Hachimura, LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and Gabe Vincent. Hopes are high that Jalen Hood-Schifino and Maxwell Lewis can contribute in 2024-25, but uncertainty is what’s sent Los Angeles to free agency for help.
As such, the Lakers are wise to aim for the acquisition of depth and stability—with an emphasis on 3-and-D capabilities.
Los Angeles finished the 2023-24 season ranked No. 24 in three-point field goals made and No. 28 in three-point field goals attempted. It was also 28th in three-point field goals allowed and 25th in opponent three-point field goal percentage.
The question is: Who are the players that could come in and make an immediate impact in two crucial areas of weakness?
And no, a shot creator like Paul George does not qualify as a 3-and-D wing.
5. Naji Marshall, UFA
Naji Marshall is one of the best-kept secrets in the NBA. A positionless defender who brings positive value against a surplus of challenges, Marshall has added an efficient and effective outside shot to his arsenal.
The 26-year-old is now an unrestricted free agent, making him a player the Lakers could realistically sign this offseason.
Marshall admittedly struggled from beyond the arc across his first three NBA seasons. In 2023-24, however, he became an entirely different offensive player, knocking down 38.7 percent of his 150 three-point field goal attempts for the New Orleans Pelicans.
The limited sample size of efficiency drops his ranking, but it’s worth noting that he shot 37.8 percent before the All-Star Game and 40.4 percent after—showing consistency across the full 2023-24 campaign.
Marshall is a 6’6″ and 220-pound wing who utilizes his near 7’1″ wingspan to make life difficult for players at almost every position. In Los Angeles, he would fit in perfectly as a versatile defender who can take on high-level scorers at multiple positions alongside Anthony Davis and James.
While he only played 19.0 minutes per game in 2023-24, Marshall averaged 13.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.7 three-point field goals per 36 minutes.
4. Isaac Okoro, RFA
The Cleveland Cavaliers have several key decisions to make during a landscape-altering offseason. Outside of the Lakers, no team has been involved in more incessant trade rumors than the Cavaliers, nor have any franchises conducted more scrutinized coaching searches.
With Kenny Atkinson hired and the dust seemingly settling on the talk that stars could be shipped out, another player enters the spotlight: Isaac Okoro.
Okoro, 23, was the No. 5 overall selection in the 2020 NBA Draft. It’s been a slow but steady process as he’s gone from ranking among the worst three-point shooters in the NBA to developing an efficient outside shot to complement his defense.
There’s still a surplus of uncertainty surrounding the type of player he’ll become, but the Los Angeles Lakers would do well to explore the possibility of stealing Okoro from the Cavaliers.
Okoro finished the 2023-24 season averaging 9.4 points and 1.2 three-point field goals made on 39.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc. His three-point shot fell to pieces in the playoffs, which is why he’s lower on this list, but the upside clearly exists for him to become a high-level 3-and-D player.
If the Lakers believe they can help Okoro develop in that capacity, then exploring a potential sign-and-trade could create an opportunity to improve.
3. De’Anthony Melton, UFA
If not for the injury he sustained in 2023-24, De’Anthony Melton would be an unrealistic target for the Los Angeles Lakers. He’s one of the best 3-and-D players in the NBA, equipped with the length, intensity, and smooth outside shot to hurt opposing teams on both ends of the floor.
Melton’s injury may open the door for him to be open to a one-year prove-it deal in a major market, however, and the Lakers are the perfect destination for him.
Melton, 26, is a North Hollywood native who played his lone collegiate season at USC. Since being selected at No. 46 overall in the 2018 NBA Draft, he’s evolved from non-shooter to sharpshooter and earned the reputation of being a high-level defender.
At 6’3″ and 200 pounds with a 6’8″ wingspan, Melton has the physical tools to defend multiple perimeter positions and make plays in the passing lanes.
Over the past four seasons, Melton has averaged 10.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.9 three-point field goals made in 24.5 minutes per game on
.414/.383/.789 shooting. He’s helped his team reach the playoffs in each of those four campaigns.
After watching Malik Monk get paid after rebuilding his image with the Los Angeles Lakers, perhaps Melton will see a similar path for himself this summer.
2. Klay Thompson, UFA
Not ranking Klay Thompson at No. 1 is a strange feeling considering he has a case for being the best 3-and-D player of his generation. In saying that, Thompson is 34 years of age, has an extensive injury history to factor into his ranking, and has taken a step back on defense after sustaining multiple serious leg injuries.
Even after putting all of that into perspective, however, it would be disrespectful to exclude him from this list—let alone not rank him among the very best on the open market.
Thompson is still producing at a high level. He averaged 17.9 points and 3.5 three-point field goals made per game in 2023-24, shooting 38.7 percent from beyond the arc—the worst full-season mark of his career, yet still better than a vast majority of players.
Acquiring Thompson would require a team to accept the risk of his potential decline, but it’s easy to see why so many franchises are open to doing so.
The Los Angeles Lakers will likely be linked to Thompson until the day he retires due to the fact that his father, Mychal Thompson, played five seasons with the franchise. He also projects to be the perfect complement to LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
A shooter’s touch is the last thing to go, and even at 34 years of age, Thompson’s range and defensive instincts make him a player worth considering—even if he will be too expensive to acquire.
1. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, UFA
One of the biggest surprises of the early stages of the NBA offseason has been the news surrounding Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Caldwell-Pope, who’s represented by Rich Paul, declined his player option and will now become an unrestricted free agent.
Caldwell-Pope is all but guaranteed to make more than the Los Angeles Lakers can offer, but it can’t hurt to explore a potential reunion.
Caldwell-Pope was a key piece of the puzzle when Anthony Davis, LeBron James and the Lakers won the championship in 2019-20. He’s since gone on to win a second ring with the Denver Nuggets, firmly establishing himself as one of the premier 3-and-D players in the NBA.
This past season, the 31-year-old posted averages of 10.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.6 three-point field goals made on .460/.406/.894 shooting.
The market for Caldwell-Pope will be vast, which would be an understandable reason to avoid going all-in on him. If the Lakers are wise, however, they’ll at least touch base to see if he’s interested in returning to the team for a second tenure.
A sign-and-trade would be necessary, but that could prove worth looking into if it means adding one of the best 3-and-D players in the Association to a roster he’s already quite familiar with.
These players could address the Lakers’ need for reliable 3-and-D wings, boosting their chances for another deep playoff run.
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