Getty Image / Nic Antaya
After a tough start to the 2022-23 NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers turned things around in a big way in the second half of the year.
That turn around was due in large part to the Lakers making some key acquisitions ahead of the trade deadline and some key contributions from their role players.
Unfortunately, once the season was over, quite a few of the players who had made such important contributions were set to head for free agency.
Yesterday was a little bittersweet for the Lakers as they re-signed Rui Hachimura, but lost Dennis Schroder.
Today it has been all good news for the Lakers.
First, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that they were bringing D’Angelo Russell back on a 2 year deal worth $37 million.
Free agent G D’Angelo Russell has agreed on a two-year, $37 million contract to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers, co-heads of @CAA_Basketball Austin Brown and Aaron Mintz along with Antonio Russell tell ESPN. Deal has player option. Lakers secure their starting point guard. pic.twitter.com/ScrZHD7Jio
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2023
The good news continued later in the day as, according to NBA insider Shams Charania, the Lakers have agreed to a deal with Austin Reaves that will keep him in LA for another 4 years.
RFA Austin Reaves has agreed to return to the Los Angeles Lakers on a four-year, $56 million Early Bird maximum contract, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Agents Aaron Reilly and Reggie Berry of AMR Agency negotiated the new deal to keep Reaves in L.A. long term.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2023
With these two moves, the Lakers now have all 5 of their starters from their playoff run back for next season.
They unfortunately haven’t been able to find another piece this offseason that could help them compete with the top of the Western Conference after they were swept by the Nuggets.
Still, these are big signings that will keep the team in the playoff race with a lineup that proved they can do some damage once they get to the postseason.
Keeping Russell, Hachimura, and Reaves also ensures the franchise will still have players to build around whenever LeBron James decides to move on.
The Los Angeles Lakers weren’t able to make the big splash some fans were hoping for this offseason, by things have already been much more positive for them this summer than they were last summer.