Lakers are Perfect Match for Top FA Who May Prefer 1-Year Deal
It’s come to that point in the offseason already.
Lakers fans are desperate for someone, ANYONE, to be added to the roster, and hope isn’t lost – although it may be looking a little bleak right now.
Gary Trent Jr. is one of the best available free agents remaining, and he’s looking to rebuild his market value.
LA could be the perfect place for him to land.
Trent Jr. Reportedly Looking for a Prove-It Contract
It seems as though Trent Jr. has overplayed his hand in free agency this summer.
Gary Trent Jr. is a strong candidate to potentially take a one-year deal in order to rebuild his market value for 2025.
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) July 10, 2024
The Raptors are officially moving on, so Trent could become a key rotation piece on a contending team.
Trent shot 43.1% on catch-and-shoot threes this season. pic.twitter.com/kqBuGxrU5A
He declined an offer from Toronto that would have paid him around $15 million annually, reportedly looking for a deal that would pay him somewhere near $25 million a season.
However, he’s yet to sign and the Raptors have pulled their offer and are moving on.
That leaves Trent Jr. in an uncomfortable position.
An update on Gary Trent Jr, who remains unsigned, from within: pic.twitter.com/hSiw4Anu7h
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) July 9, 2024
He may be forced to take a one-year deal far below what he was looking for with a team in need of his services.
The Lakers would be an ideal fit.
LA was ninth in the NBA in 3-point percentage last season (37.2), but was 24th in the NBA in 3-pointers made per game (11.6).
New head coach JJ Redick has stressed that he’s looking for 3-point shooters this offseason, and Trent Jr. is just that. He shot 39.3% from deep last season and that’s no fluke as he’s averaged 38.6% from 3-point range across seven seasons in the NBA.
Though he's not the big-time addition that Lakers fans were hoping to see this offseason, he's a capable scorer off the bench (career 14.3 points per game) and would certainly make the roster better than it currently is.
The only question then is if the Lakers can afford to add Trent Jr.
Michael Grange of Sportsnet reports an Eastern Conference GM saying Trent Jr. might not even be offered the mid-level exception.
That means it’s certainly possible for LA to sign him, and with options running thin, it may be smart to do so soon.
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