4. Jarred Vanderbilt
The defensive specialist finally returned to action after a year away from the team. After offseason surgery and a setback in his recovery, Vanderbilt is back in the rotation and has looked good in his short stints. So far, he has played 42 total minutes in three games and already made a difference defensively, putting up a whopping nine steals.
Even when he was at his best, Vando was a limited offensive player. It will take a while for him to make an impact on that end of the floor. For now, however, JJ Redick is more than happy to have some more defensive versatility and athleticism.
While it's great to have Vanderbilt back, question marks around his injury and potential playoff feasibility remain. The Lakers are already a shooting-challenged team and having Vando next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis doesn't make things any easier.
Plus, he makes $10.7 million this season and is under contract for three more seasons. His return right before the trade deadline is an excellent opportunity for the Lakers. By showing the league that Vando is healthy and ready to contribute, they can increase his trade value and use his salary to acquire a more reliable impact player.
5. Rui Hachimura
On paper, the Lakers still need Hachimura despite the addition of Dorian Finney-Smith. While the two players play a similar role, you can never have too many three-and-D forwards in the NBA if you are hoping to compete for a championship. Hachimura isn't great at any one thing he does, but he has good size, can shoot, and does a fine job guarding multiple positions.
At the same time, if the Lakers are aiming high at the trade deadline, Hachimura will presumably have to be included. The 26-year-old forward makes $17 million this season, making him a good option for salary-matching purposes as the third-highest-paid player on the team.
Even though it's not the most team-friendly contract since he has guaranteed money for next season as well, Hachimura has the skillset that teams around the league value. There are likely teams in the NBA who won't treat his deal as a negative value. If the Lakers target a high-salaried player like De'Aaron Fox, Zach LaVine, or Jerami Grant, Los Angeles will more than likely send Hachimura going the other way.