The Los Angeles Lakers' offseason has, in many ways, failed to live up to expectations. Fans can only argue that this offseason is going to be looked back on fondly if Deandre Ayton does the one thing he hasn't done the rest of his career.
So often, there has been a reason to question Ayton's effort and focus, with the talent being undeniable. Still, the fate of the 2025 offseason is in the hands of one of the league's least reliable talents. With this in mind, the Lakers must be searching for every possible upgrade over the final weeks of the offseason.
One surprising option has presented itself with Malik Beasley being cleared in a gambling probe. Teams are now free to sign the veteran without worrying about suspension. While Beasley has been able to sign since the start of free agency, there wasn't a team willing to take the risk without knowing the veteran's status.
Even for a proven shooter such as Beasley, this makes sense. There was no reason to sign a player who could be suspended not only for the season but for an unknown amount of time. However, this concern has now been lifted, and the Lakers have an opportunity to improve on an underwhelming offseason.
Lakers Have a Chance to Greatly Improve Poor Offseason
Signing Beasley instantly changes the look of the Laker bench and gives you a chance to add one of the better shooters from last season. The one caveat to this is whether or not the pressure of playing with Luka or LeBron is going to be too big a moment for the shooter. It wouldn't be the first time we've seen a shooter get incredibly hot in an ideal situation and fail under pressure.
Still, with very limited options remaining in free agency, it makes sense for Los Angeles to at least attempt the signing. Limited cap space is going to make this difficult, but not impossible, if the veteran sees the Lakers as an opportunity to contend for a title. Signing a one-year deal with the prestige franchise and attempting to cash in next season could be viewed as a savvy move.
No question, the Lakers should at least be among the teams attempting to chase the veteran ahead of the preseason. The underwhelming lack of offseason additions demands a healthy sense of urgency as the season continues to approach.