Lakers re-sign free agents in championship title pursuit

The Los Angeles Lakers have been busy bolstering their roster for the upcoming NBA season. With the NBA’s moratorium period concluding, the Lakers wasted no time in re-signing key players Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent.

The Lakers also added notable talents to their lineup, including Taurean Prince, Jaxson Hayes and Cam Reddish. These strategic moves solidify the team’s determination to claim the championship title in the 2023-24 season.

Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka fulfilled his commitment by keeping the core players who performed well after the trade deadline. He also prioritized adding youth and enhancing the team’s overall depth.

Smart moves in free agency

Los Angeles have taken a significant step by officially signing Vincent to a 3-year contract worth $33 million. Since he agreed to a slightly lower contract than the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, the Lakers now have an extra $1.4 million that can be used for potential buyout acquisitions in the future.

Another strategic move is securing Reaves with a favorable contract. The starting shooting guard will earn approximately $18.7 million per year, providing great value for the team. Despite going undrafted, Reaves has proven himself as a valuable NBA player.

In the 2022-23 season, Reaves served as a reliable starter throughout the playoffs. He excelled as part of the starting lineup in the final ten games of the regular season, averaging 16.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game.

The Lakers were also determined to re-sign Hachimura, who described his time in Los Angeles as the “best time of my life.” They successfully secured him with a 3-year contract worth $51 million.

Hachimura had an impressive postseason, averaging 12.2 points with exceptional shooting percentages of .557 from the field, .487 from beyond the arc and .882 from the free-throw line. His physicality and solid defensive skills were notable, especially when facing players like Nikola Jokic.