How should the Lakers fill their biggest team need?

The Los Angeles Lakers made an early splash in the NBA free agency, using most of their available cap space to acquire Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Sandro Mamukelashvili and, most notably, Walker Kessler. Los Angeles reportedly sent two first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps for Kessler. With its need for a rim protector and additional scoring addressed, the Purple and Gold can now shift its focus to the perimeter.

A lack of athletic three-and-D wings was one of the Lakers’ biggest weaknesses last season, and that issue remains early into free agency. With limited draft capital and cap flexibility left, Los Angeles will need to get creative to address one of the roster’s most pressing needs. The Lakers likely face two realistic paths to accomplish this.

The development approach

The Lakers could take the developmental route and see what second-year forward Adou Thiero and rookie Cameron Carr have to offer.

Thiero possesses the tools to develop into a meaningful contributor. Standing at 6-foot-7, he has the length and athleticism to become an effective defender on the perimeter and around the rim. The Lakers' win-now approach limited Thiero’s opportunities during his rookie season, leaving him with a small sample size. He split time between Los Angeles and its G League affiliate. In seven games in the G league, Thiero averaged 15.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks. With the departure of LeBron James, Thiero may be in line for an increase in minutes to prove himself.

Carr also has the physical profile to develop into a formidable wing defender. At 6-foot-5, he has the size and length to defend most guards and wings. His athleticism is one of his biggest strengths, and he plays with a high motor on the defensive end, which was evidenced by his team-leading 45 blocks last season at Baylor.

Another intriguing aspect of Carr’s game is his shooting ability. He shot 37% from the three-point range last season. If these aspects translate to the NBA level, he could be on a fast track to getting minutes early and accelerating his development.

While Carr and Thiero may have the potential to address the Lakers’ need, time is not necessarily on their side. If Los Angeles opts to develop its young talent, there will likely be growing pains. However, that approach would provide the Lakers with greater financial flexibility while allowing the organization to evaluate two promising prospects. That evaluation will begin when the NBA Summer League tips off.

The buy-low approach

The other option that remains for the Lakers is to search the market for buy-low candidates to fill the gaps on the wing. Former lottery picks Jonathon Kuminga and Ziaire Williams have surfaced as potential options.

Kuminga’s size, athleticism and experience make him an intriguing target. At just 23 years old, he is already a proven scorer and has appeared in 40 playoff games. His ability to stretch the floor and defend multiple positions would make him an ideal fit for the Lakers this offseason. However, Kuminga is expected to draw interest from several teams with more salary-cap flexibility than Los Angeles, which could make pursuing him difficult.

Williams is coming off a career year across the board, averaging 10.2 points, 1.4 steals and shooting 34% from three-point range. Standing at 6-foot-9, Williams could grow into a versatile defender who could play on the perimeter and at the rim. He would likely be a more attainable target than Kuminga, though the move would carry more risk. Given the Lakers’ financial situation, pursuing a high-upside project may be a gamble worth taking.

The Lakers’ limited cap flexibility forces them to explore sign-and-trades to make any additional moves. Players such as Deandre Ayton, Jarred Vanderbilt and Dalton Knecht could emerge as trade candidates. While that would be a difficult path, the Lakers will need to explore every available option if they hope to build a contender around Luka Doncic and remain competitive in the Western Conference.