After missing out on signing Alonzo Gee and Michael Beasley, the Los Angeles Lakers appear poised to wait until later in the season before considering signing additional depth for the 3-spot.
Both small forwards the Lakers were reportedly eying aren't headed to Los Angeles after all. RealGM reported Tuesday Gee had reached an agreement with the Denver Nuggets and would be reporting to camp later in the day, and Beasley signed with the Memphis Grizzlies last week.
With the Lakers' two purported free agent targets no longer available, Los Angeles appears to be taking the "wait and see" approach heading into training camp. The team will enter camp with two open roster spots and five camp invites, seemingly hoping somebody in-house can fill the 3-spot depth Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak appears to be looking for.
It's uncertain how hard Kupchak pushed for Gee or Beasley. Gee was considered a target because of his past success playing for first-year Lakers coach Byron Scott. Beasley was an option because he had an improved season with the Miami Heat last season, but the Lakers supposedly were unwilling to give Beasley the guaranteed contract he wanted.
In other Lakers news, veteran guard Steve Nash reportedly could be a trade asset if he is fully healthy.
"As for Nash, if he's healthy, then I can absolutely see a team looking for an experienced, veteran leader wanting to bring him in, like OKC did with Derek Fisher the last few years," Basketball Insiders' Larry Coon wrote Friday. "And even with the glut of point guards in Phoenix, I can see them bringing him back home as an elder statesman and face of the franchise, especially if he has any plans of a career transition that keeps him with the club."
