Kristaps Porzingis And Buddy Hield Among Six Stars Linked With Lakers Ahead Of Draft Night

The Los Angeles Lakers are entering an entertaining offseason where they'll try to answer all the questions left unanswered during the 2022-23 NBA season. The Purple and Gold managed to go all the way to the Western Conference Finals, getting swept by the Denver Nuggets. 

Ahead of the 2023 NBA Draft, the team is ready to make some moves to improve its level. According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, they can use the No. 17 overall pick and one of their current players to upgrade the rotation. 

"The framework of a deal would likely involve Beasley, Bamba and the No. 17 pick getting exchanged for a starter-level player. The Lakers could also execute a smaller deal with only one of Beasley or Bamba, plus, potentially, the pick. Names around the league that have been linked to the Lakers in recent weeks include Indiana’s Myles Turner and Buddy Hield, Brooklyn’s Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O’Neale, Toronto’s Gary Trent Jr. and Washington’s Kristaps Porzingis, according to multiple league sources not authorized to speak publicly."

They are linked with a series of starter-level players that can make an impact next season. Some would have a bigger role than others, but the Lakers could benefit from all of these players. This offseason, they won't focus on bringing in high-profile players. 

Porzingis is perhaps the best player on the list, even though he's not playing at an All-Star level anymore. Myles Turner and Buddy Hield have been linked with the team for a couple of years now. Gary Trent Jr. is an intriguing piece for the Lakers, too, although he picked up his player option with the Toronto Raptors. 

The other players can contribute in different forms, but the first three can make the biggest impact on the Lakers. They need to make an appealing package for any of these players if they hope to improve their level.

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The Lakers Are Still Interested In Landing Chris Paul

Right after the Bradley Beal-to-Suns trade, Chris Paul was mentioned in several rumors around the league, including a move to the Los Angeles Lakers. Paul could be the piece the 17-time NBA champions need to reach new heights in the future. 

It remains to be seen if the Lakers can complete any of these moves or decide to go in a different route. This offseason will present a lot of questions, and the front office needs to make smart moves ahead of a new season. 

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