Vincent Carchietta – USA TODAY Sports
This offseason hasn't gone the way the Los Angeles Lakers hoped, with many turning them down.
First, they surprisingly chose to pursue University of Connecticut head coach Dan Hurley, only to be turned down by him, despite him having won back-to-back national championships and loving the East Coast.
The Lakers then made Golden State Warriors star Klay Thompson their top free agent target, and LeBron James was willing to accept less money on a new contract to make it easier for L.A. to acquire the shooter.
However, the Lakers again miscalculated Thompson's interest, and he instead opted to sign with the Dallas Mavericks. With free agency well underway, general manager Rob Pelinka has yet to make any moves to bolster his depth.
The Lakers were reportedly in the market for Buddy Hield before he signed with the Warriors, per The Athletic's Shams Charania, Mark Pulleo, Anthony Slater and Mike Volkunov, and it appears the Lakers missed out on another of their targets.
Hield is currently playing for Valencia, Spain, as a key player for the Bahamas national team, which is two wins away from a surprising Olympic berth. The coach is Warriors assistant Chris DeMarco, who is supportive of Hield's acquisition. The move had been in the works for a few days, but Hield called Steve Kerr late Wednesday night and thought about it overnight before finally making the final decision.
According to a league source, Hield chose the Warriors because of their chances to win a championship, with the Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Lakers also in the running to acquire him.
Hield, a former Pelinka client, has been rumored to be linked to the Lakers for years, but this is the first time his name has been mentioned in connection to the Lakers this offseason, and it's unclear the level of interest the franchise may have had.
The Lakers currently have a full roster and, as a team above the first apron, don't have the mid-level exception to offer a player like Hield. They likely would have offered the minimum, but Hield ended up making about $9 million in his contract with the Warriors and his 3-point shooting would be a price to pay for Thompson.
Nets open to D'Angelo Russell trade with Lakers
If the Lakers were to make any big moves, it would likely come on the trade market and could involve D'Angelo Russell, who is on an expiring contract.
The Nets are reportedly interested in re-acquiring the former All-Star as the Lakers continue to try to sell him, with Cameron Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith being options that Los Angeles has shown interest in, and a deal could be made there.
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