The Los Angeles Lakers made just one move at the NBA trade deadline, and while they were rumored to be targeting a few players on the buyout market, they signed Kobe Bufkin to a full contract. Instead of making moves right now, the Lakers are now focused on the offseason, and creating as much cap space and flexibility to put players around their core duo of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
While they remain in Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors, the team is reportedly set to make a push this summer, another player, set to be a restricted free agent, could join the Lakers this summer.
Writing for ESPN, Kevin Pelton said restricted free agent Peyton Watson of the Denver Nuggets ‘might be gettable‘ for the Lakers this offseason, as he is having the best season of his career in the Mile High City, but might garner a contract bigger than what his current team can pay.
“Restricted free agency is trickier for a team such as the Lakers that can’t afford to wait out the matching period, but Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson — an L.A.-area native who played at UCLA — might be gettable via sign-and-trade because of Denver’s tax situation,” Pelton wrote.
Los Angeles has been linked to Watson over the past few weeks, and stepping up this season with his 14.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and two assists on 49.6% shooting for a very injured Nuggets team, he could be a great wing addition for the Lakers to add.
Lakers Eyeing Peyton Watson In Free Agency
With all signs pointing to LeBron James out the door this summer, as well as the other expiring contracts the Lakers have on the books, outside of Reaves, who they are expected to give a big deal to, the franchise is expected to have about $55 million in cap space this summer.
Watson will be a restricted free agent in the offseason, but in the last year of his four-year, $11.2 million rookie deal, the Los Angeles could very well offer him a contract much bigger than Denver could match.
NBA insider Jake Fischer first reported the interest from the Lakers’ side.
“It must be said, though, that rival executives are increasingly curious about Denver’s likely struggles to retain Peyton Watson this summer given the fourth-year swingman’s recent breakout play amid all of the Nuggets’ health woes,” he wrote on The Stein Line substack. “We’ll certainly be tracking this situation over the coming months, since Watson’s restricted free agency is already shaping up to become a major domino of the offseason. Sources say teams that are projected to have cap space — notably such as the Lakers — are already preparing interest.”
Most recently, Dan Woike of The Athletic followed up that news by adding that the team could make a sign-and-trade deal with the Nuggets in exchange for one of their other mid-level players.
“They could engage with restricted free agents like Denver’s Peyton Watson and Houston’s Tari Eason,” he wrote. “And while restricted free agency comes with complications tied to offer sheets and prior teams’ rights to match, the Lakers could try to bypass those steps with draft capital in sign-and-trades.”
Adding a wing like Watson would be a solid addition for the Lakers next season. The center position remains a big issue they’ll need to address, but with the potential cap space, Watson is going to garner a lot of attention this summer, and a return to his hometown could certainly be in play.
Lakers Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Rumors, Offseason Hopes
While someone like Watson would be a player who could fit well next to Doncic and Reaves, the possibility of adding Antetokounmpo is likely the Lakers’ top priority this summer. Though he wasn’t moved at the trade deadline and has re-pledged his allegiance to the Milwaukee Bucks multiple times over the past few weeks, there is an expectation that trade rumors will once again heat up this summer.
“The Los Angeles Lakers all but made it official this week: They plan to chase Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer,” Woike wrote in his same article discussing the potential of them adding Watson.
But as the Bucks weren’t interested in the trade offers, teams like the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, and New York Knicks were ready to give up, the asking price for Antetokounmpo is going to be high. They would almost certainly have to give up Reaves and their offseason-available first-round picks, along with a few other assets, but the idea of pairing the Greek Freak with Doncic is too intriguing to ignore.
“One major appeal in the Lakers’ package will be the cap relief they can offer Milwaukee,” Jacob Rude wrote for Silver Screen and Roll. “Does that mean Austin Reaves will be involved in a potential sign-and-trade? He’s certainly the best player the Bucks could get back, but it requires the Lakers to be willing to trade him and for Reaves to want to go to Milwaukee. With him, the Lakers would have the best trade package. Without him, it becomes much more of a debate.”
Recently, Antetokounmpo said he is interested in teaming up with James, and while he looks to be on his way out, resigning on a minimum deal could make the Lakers an even more serious threat to land the two-time MVP over the offseason.
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