4 Low-Cost Free Agents the Lakers Can Still Sign After LeBron Extension
It isn't much of a secret that the Los Angeles Lakers' offseason hasn't gone as planned. One after another, notable free agents continue to fall off the board while the Lakers haven't done much outside of signing the James family — LeBron and Bronny — to new contracts, officially making them the first father-son duo to be rostered on the same team on an NBA roster.
It's always a great thing to have the greatest basketball player of all time on your roster, but LeBron's re-signing does come with some drawbacks. Since the 39-year-old superstar opted for a $104 million contract rather than taking a rumored pay cut, the Lakers are left with financial scraps to flesh out the rest of the time.
Although Los Angeles won't land any of the major available names, there are still reliable veterans who can be had on cheaper deals. With that being said, here are four low-cost free agent targets for the Lakers.
1. Kyle Lowry, PG
With Gabe Vincent leaving much to be desired last season and D'Angelo Russell being a potential trade candidate, the Lakers would be wise to address their point guard depth. If they're looking to add a reliable playmaker on an affordable contract, they should consider contacting Kyle Lowry.
Lowry is an experienced veteran with nearly 1,300 games under his belt between the NBA regular season and playoffs. The former six-time All-Star also brings a winning attitude wherever he goes, highlighted by his 2019 NBA Championship victory with the Toronto Raptors.
Although the 38-year-old is past his prime, he'd still be decent for the Lakers in a backup role. He looked solid as a member of the Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers throughout the 2023-24 campaign, averaging 8.1 points on .432/.392/.840 splits while adding 4.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game.
Additionally, the Lakers previously showed interest in the ex-Villanova product not too long ago. The Athletic's Jovan Buha reported back in January that Los Angeles was one of the teams that was interested in Lowry's services after he was waived following a trade to the Charlotte Hornets ahead of the 2024 NBA trade deadline.
Obviously, the 76ers persuaded him to join their team but it's possible that general manager Rob Pelinka circles back this summer.
With Lowry nearing 40, it's unlikely that a potential signing would break the Lakers' bank — especially if they convince him they'll get him one more ring before he hangs up his sneakers.