The Los Angeles Lakers have a ton to think about in the summer of 2023. Their salary cap situation indicates that there is plenty of room for flexibility, and the pending rumors of LeBron James’ retirement are causing stirs within the organization. Los Angeles needs to go all-in next year before James hits 40 years old and possibly retires for good, especially with Anthony Davis not able to stay healthy and lead a franchise on his own. As a result, the Purple and Gold need to sort out which players they want to keep and also let go for the sake of their future.
With a host of options for the Lakers to realistically build a title contender as soon as possible, Rob Pelinka and the management team need to organize the roster and only pay players that deserve to wear the iconic shirt. Obviously, LeBron James and Anthony Davis headline the team’s roster and with many pieces competing for minutes, money, and long-term deals, Pelinka has to make sure he gets this summer right. The Western Conference is stacked with many contending teams, including the Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, and Memphis Grizzlies, among others, and the Lakers need to build their roster to compete with them.
Without further ado, here are the players that will leave and stay on the Lakers for the 2023-24 NBA season. It is never easy to choose which players deserve to be a Laker next year, but there are only a handful of players who the Lakers will gladly pay at all costs. Most of the Lakers players won’t be on the team next year, but that is the nature of the NBA and the iconic Purple and Gold jerseys that is only suitable for the very best.
Players That Will Leave The Lakers This SummerCole Swider
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Cole Swider was a 24-year-old rookie during the 2022-23 NBA season and did not get much of a chance to show what he can do. He only appeared in seven games and averaged 1.3 PPG in 5.9 MPG of action. The 6’9” small forward has size but will probably not be on the team because the Lakers need to pick and choose their roster wisely this summer.
Shaquille Harrison
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Shaquille Harrison has been in the NBA for five years already and was signed by the Los Angeles Lakers for roster purposes. However, the 6’4” guard did not get a chance to play a single minute for the Lakers and that means he probably won’t get a chance next year either. Harrison’s best season came last year with the Portland Trail Blazers when he posted 8.8 PPG and 6.0 APG, but he probably won’t get a chance to put up those numbers again at nearly 30 years old.
Davon Reed
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Davon Reed was brought in by Los Angeles in the Denver Nuggets trade, and he has lasted three seasons in the league so far. Reed is a high-energy guard who hustles for every loose ball, so it is very likely he finds a new team next year. The Lakers won’t have room to bring back Reed, and the shooting guard will need to make sure his agent finds him a new home next year.
Sterling Brown
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Sterling Brown is an above-average shooter, but he doesn’t do much else. The shooting guard is averaging 36.3% from three over his career and has three seasons of shooting at least 40%. Brown only appeared in four games this year with the Lakers and did not do much, as he did not score a single point. At 28 years old, it’s too soon to call it quits on his career, but it is with the Lakers.
Tristan Thompson
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Tristan Thompson will always have the ability to defend at a high level, even if his athleticism and finishing around the rim has waned. The big man appeared in the Western Conference Finals in an effort to slow down Nikola Jokic, but it is likely he won’t be back next season. Thompson is 32 years old and past his prime, and it is likely the center, who has been in the news for more than his basketball play, might call it quits on his career.
Scotty Pippen Jr.
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Scotty Pippen Jr has a ton of potential as a 22-year-old forward who comes from an incredible basketball heritage. His father, Scottie Pippen, was a dominant two-way player who found great success alongside Michael Jordan in Chicago. Pippen Jr has some of his father’s basketball IQ as a 6’3” point guard, and he could be looking for a chance to play more minutes somewhere else. A team like the Lakers that want to contend can’t wait on a second-year player, and he likely won’t be back.
Troy Brown Jr
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Troy Brown Jr is considered a valuable role player in today’s NBA because he nails 35.4% of his threes over his career. The sharpshooter has a quick release and doesn’t need much space to let his shots fly, and that means the player might be looking for the most money possible this summer. Brown Jr won’t get paid like a mid-level player, but if he gets a longer-term deal somewhere else, he will leave the Los Angeles Lakers.
Mo Bamba
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Mo Bamba has potential that is not being reached right now. The 25-year-old is 7’0” tall and over 230 lbs, so he has incredible size, and he can even space the floor a little bit with a career 35.9% average from deep. There will be teams interested in Bamba this summer, and if the Lakers can make a deal for a player like Kyrie Irving, Bamba could be included in talks if it means shaking up the roster to the team’s benefit.
Malik Beasley
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Similar to Mo Bamba, Malik Beasley will have suitors who want a chance to acquire a sharpshooter. For a trade that could involve Kyrie Irving, among other stars, Beasley and his $16.5 million team option could be a great trade asset. Beasley is averaging 37.8% from deep over his career, which means he knows how to get hot from the perimeter. Many teams need more shooting, and a player this accurate from the three could mean the Lakers can engage in trade negotiations for an All-Star talent.
Dennis Schroder
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Dennis Schroder may or may not have rejected an $80 million extension from the Los Angeles Lakers, but he has played well enough to earn a chance to make more than the minimum next year. The speedy point guard can get to the rim, make plays for others, and also space the floor a little bit. Averaging 12.6 PPG and 4.5 APG during the season will certainly cut it for most teams needing point guard depth and experience. At 29 years old, Schroder still has a lot left in the tank, and the Lakers might not be able to afford to keep him.
Lonnie Walker IV
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Lonnie Walker IV made a big name for himself in the series against the Golden State Warriors, dropping 15 points in the fourth quarter in Game 4. A solid shooter from deep and a defensive wing, Walker IV brings a lot to the table for teams needing two-way play. Walker averaged 11.7 PPG in the regular season on 36.5% shooting from three, but he did not get much of a run in the postseason other than his breakout performance against the Golden State Warriors. Walker will command a longer-term deal from teams, and the Lakers might not be able to bring him back on a team-friendly deal.
D’Angelo Russell
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D’Angelo Russell is a talented offensive player but he isn’t exactly the answer for a potential Big Three in Los Angeles. He had a solid regular season by averaging 17.8 PPG and 6.2 APG, but his numbers fell to 13.3 PPG and 4.6 APG in the playoffs. At 27 years old, the 1-time All-Star still has plenty of years ahead of him, which means the Lakers can package him in a deal for the interested Kyrie Irving. Russell will never be able to eclipse what other All-Star guards can bring to the table in terms of consistency, so he could be on the move as soon as this summer.
Players That Will Stay With The Lakers For The 2023-24 NBA SeasonMax Christie
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Max Christie is a player the Lakers rate highly because his potential is there for everyone to see. The 6’6” shooting guard can defend, shoot the three, and has very solid athleticism. The things missing from his game are confidence, experience, and consistency, which are all things that come with time. The 20-year-old was taken No. 35 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, so not much was expected of him, but he has actually surprised people with his efforts and basketball IQ. Expect the Lakers to keep Christie for the long term, as he is under contract for the 2023-24 NBA season.
Wenyen Gabriel
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Wenyen Gabriel is a free agent this summer, but expect the Lakers to offer something around a one-year contract to see if the young center can earn minutes in the regular season. Gabriel has decent size at 6’9” and 205 lbs, and he is athletic enough to finish around the rim. The 26-year-old Sudanese national probably won’t ever be a major player for the Lakers as Anthony Davis’ backup, but the organization knows what the big man can bring and sometimes that is enough to re-sign players.
Jarred Vanderbilt
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Obviously, Jarred Vanderbilt will need to be on the team next year. He is arguably the team’s best defensive player and proved he can be a starter since coming in the trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 6’9” forward has incredible length and athleticism with a natural urge to defend at a high level. Vanderbilt is under contract for over $4 million next year, and the Lakers will gladly have the player earn his long-term contract. At only 24 years old, Jarred Vanderbilt could be a massive player for the franchise going forward.
Austin Reaves
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Everybody knows that Austin Reaves is commanding a long-term deal worth at least $50 million, and if the player wants to stay with the Lakers by all means, a deal can be reached. Reaves has the potential to actually become a star player because he knows how to score, draw fouls, and compete on defense. An undrafted rookie has to play his heart out every second to prove his worth, and consistency has been the biggest reason Reaves is earning major minutes. The 24-year-old will only get better, and the Lakers will do everything in their power to match any offer sheets that Reaves gets, with the possibility of a deal reaching much more than $50 million.
Rui Hachimura
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Similar to Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura will be a major player for the Lakers going forward. Los Angeles wants to match any offers for the two-way forward because he is only 25 years old and had a solid season by posting 11.2 PPG and 4.5 RPG in the regular season, followed by 12.2 PPG and 3.6 RPG in the playoffs. Rui can score from mid-range, has a soft touch around the rim, and can compete on defense. Expect the Lakers to match any offer sheet that Hachimura gets because they want to keep their core together.
Anthony Davis
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It is almost certain that Anthony Davis isn’t going anywhere as an All-Star-caliber player making over $40 million per season. The big man can score, defend, and rebound at a high level, even if he frustrates fans with his inability to stay healthy for long. Regardless of his health issues, Davis is dominant when he is on the court and is a walking double-double. If the Lakers want to truly compete and go for it next year, keeping Davis is a priority because a big man who can post 25 PPG and 10 RPG in his sleep is hard to come by. Davis can be relied upon to lead the team in scoring next season, with LeBron James taking a backseat role for the first time in his career. If Los Angeles keeps Davis and James, adding another All-Star places them as the favorites in the West.
LeBron James
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Obviously, LeBron James isn’t going anywhere unless it is on his own terms. James had a great regular season, averaging 28.9 PPG and breaking the all-time scoring record. In the playoffs, The King took his numbers to 24.5 PPG to go along with 9.9 RPG. James is clearly no longer in his prime despite his elite stats, and he will need some more help to truly be an impactful player for the team. The King’s basketball IQ and playmaking are all-time great, and he will be under contract for over $46 million next year.
With a player option in the 2024-25 season, James could decide to leave and join up with his son Bronny James Jr or hang it up for good. Whichever case ends up presenting itself, the Lakes need to win next year because it could be their last chance. By trading for a player such as Kyrie Irving, the Lakers can realistically win it all as they clean up the roster and pick and choose the players to return next year.
