Why the Lakers should prioritize signing DeRozan and Lowry over signing Chris Paul or trading for Westbrook this offseason
There has been much speculation about all four of these players being linked to the Lakers
After the Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA championship, all eyes move to the NBA offseason which starts with the NBA Draft next Thursday. Many people believe that the Lakers will make a big move following a very disappointing 2021 season that was filled with injuries, bad team chemistry, and tons of losing, something the team was not accustomed to in the 2019/2020 NBA season.
Since the Lakers season ended after losing in the first round to the Suns, NBA Twitter and Laker Nation, in general, have been pitching trade and signing ideas for Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front office. Some trade ideas are insanely unreasonable and unattainable like proposing Talen Horton-Tucker, Kyle Kuzma, Dennis Schroder, and draft picks for Damian Lillard or Russell Westbrook, neither of which would be agreed upon by the Trailblazers or the Wizards unless Westbrook or Lillard demanded a trade solely to the Lakers.
Chris Paul to the Lakers would be fantastic if they could find more cap space, but I think he will decide to stay in Phoenix as they have unfinished business after losing in the finals, but coming so close to a title. A more reasonable and attainable idea for the Lakers front office is to find cap space and sign both Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan this offseason. Even just one of those two players would add extreme depth, experience, and talent to the roster. Both players have expressed their desire to play for the Lakers, and almost surely one of the two or even both will take a pay cut to compete for a championship next season in purple and gold.
Sure, adding Westbrook would also be fantastic as he is an elite finisher, passer, and rebounder, but he can’t shoot, which has been the Lakers’ biggest problem. Westbrook also cannot play elite defense, which is highly emphasized in Frank Vogel’s system. If you instead add Kyle Lowry, who can shoot, create, and defend at an elite level, then you are getting a guy who not only fits the holes in your lineup but also a guy who fits the coaching system implemented as well.
Adding DeRozan would also be fantastic, and even though he isn’t an elite shooter from beyond the arc, he has really become an elite playmaker to go along with his already elite mid-range game and defense. DeRozan averaged a career-high 6.9 APG last season so he would surely take some of the playmaking off of LeBron. If the Lakers could somehow add both of these players, they would fill their needs of continued dominant defense, elite playmaking, and shooting. This would be a dream scenario and it could actually happen since both players may want to team up and win a title ASAP.
I do expect the Lakers to do everything they can to sign both Lowry and DeRozan, and it will be hard of course because of the cap, but it definitely is possible and is a better scenario than trading young players and draft selections for Westbrook, who you don’t know can fit well with LeBron and Anthony Davis.
Finally, if the Lakers do pickup both Lowry and DeRozan in the offseason and are also able to draft a high-end player with the #22 overall selection, then just add a couple of veterans to round out the depth, they will be unbeatable and most certainly will be considered NBA title favorites over the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks. So what do you say Rob Pelinka and the Lakers? Make it happen.