2. Jalen Hood-Schifino
The Lakers already turned down the third-year option on Jalen Hood-Schifino, further cementing his status as a major draft bust.
Since being drafted with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, the combo guard has very sparsely played for the Lakers. He has appeared exclusively in the garbage time in 23 games while spending most of his time in South Bay in the G League.
What hurts the most for Lakers fans is the fact that the three next selections after Hood-Schifino were Jaime Jaquez Jr, Brandin Podziemski, and Cam Whitmore, all players the Lakers would love to have as part of their rotation this season.
Hood-Schifino will walk for nothing in the offseason and he makes $3.8 million for this year. If the Lakers can get anyone who can be a part of that rotation using that salary slot, they should consider it. If there is any team interested in JHS, the Lakers will let him go, even if it's just for the additional roster spot.
3. Christian Wood
Another roster spot that the Lakers haven't gotten anything from is Christian Wood's. After inexplicably giving him a player option for the 2024-25 season, the Lakers are now stuck with Wood ahead of the trade deadline.
Unsurprisingly, Wood failed to live up to the expectations last season, falling out of the rotation as the season progressed. As a result, he picked up his player option for $3 million for this season but hasn't seen the court yet. After having offseason knee injury, Wood suffered a setback in his recovery and it's not clear when he will return to action.
Even if Wood were to return this season, how much he can contribute is up for debate. Wood was a poor defender before his injury and with expected athletic regression, it's hard to imagine him being better on that end of the floor. Despite the fact that the Lakers desperately need more frontcourt depth, Wood is not the solution there.
Obviously, interest in Wood will be minimal. His expiring contract will be the main appeal for any team acquiring him. If the Lakers can't find a new home for Wood, cutting him before the final stretch of the season is another option. Before it comes to that, however, GM Rob Pelinka will want to include him as part of any trade package for salary-matching purposes.