4 Free Agents Lakers Should Target This Offseason

The Los Angeles Lakers have important questions they need to answer heading into the offseason. Who will be their head coach? Will LeBron James still be there? How will they surround him with enough talent to become a title contender again?

As LeBron James enters the final stretch of his career, the Lakers can't afford to make mistakes in roster building to give him another chance at a ring. That is why the trade market and free agency will be hugely important this offseason.

The Lakers are an expensive team so they don't have too much cap space. They will have to make do with the taxpayer mid-level exception or create more cap space by moving on from some of the players on the roster. That is why Laker fans should temper their expectations in the free-agent market.

That doesn't mean, however, that there aren't quality options on the market. Let's take a look at the four best fits for the Lakers.

4. Buddy Hield

Hield has long been the apple of the eye of the Lakers organization. He has been linked to Los Angeles for a couple of seasons due to his status as a sharpshooter. Considering how desperate the Lakers have been for shooting for years, Hield always made some sense next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

The 31-year-old shooting guard didn't really cover himself in glory this past season. He was traded to the Sixers mid-season but gradually lost his spot in the rotation as the playoffs arrived. He was still solid on the offensive end, averaging 12.2 points on 38.9% shooting from downtown in the regular season. His defensive struggles, however, caused head coach Nick Nurse to play him fewer and fewer minutes in the postseason. Despite the fact that the Sixers desperately needed more scoring punch against the Knicks in the first round, Hield was seldom used, averaging 12.8 minutes per game in only four appearances.

This situation is a blessing in disguise for the Lakers. It makes Hield that much more acquirable for Los Angeles. Hield would immediately be the best shooter on the roster and can play extended minutes with the starting lineup even if he was considered more of a sixth-man.