4 Former Rivals the Lakers Can Add This Offseason

The Los Angeles Lakers have a lot on their plate this offseason. Owner Jeanie Buss and general manager Rob Pelinka have to hire a new head coach and retain LeBron James.

At the same time, they need to make sure that they make the necessary additions to the roster ahead of next season. Where LeBron and Anthony Davis are at this stage of their careers, the Lakers have a narrow championship window and they need to take advantage of it.

There are plenty of free agents and veterans on the trade block who can help the Lakers in the 2024-25 season. This includes some players who were previously the Lakers' rivals. Let's take a look at some familiar foes that the Lakers can bring in.

Eric Gordon

The 35-year-old sharpshooter has long been a foe of the Los Angeles Lakers. Having started his career with the Los Angeles Clippers, Eric Gordon had the peak of his career with the Houston Rockers where he was a playoff opponent of the Lakers during their 2020 championship run.

The 6'3 shooting guard has been a key part of title contenders throughout his career but hasn't been able to win a championship so far. However, he has extensive experience that would be valuable for any team looking for veteran help.

Gordon doesn't have the quickness and athleticism he showed early in his career anymore but he is still a solid option off the bench. He has deep range and versatility to his jump shot, which would be a very good fit next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Defensively, he is strong enough to guard multiple positions.

The former seventh-overall pick has a player option worth $3.3 million with the Suns next season but he is likely opting out if he thinks he can get a longer deal. The Lakers can be the team to give him that.