LeBron James and Luka Dončić could use some more reserve help.
The Los Angeles Lakers fell in a decisive five-game first-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2025 NBA Playoffs, due in large part to their pronounced lack of depth.
While addressing the center position will be the Lakers' biggest priority once free agency begins, a solid shooting guard could also solve plenty of Los Angeles' problems.
The Lakers' general manager Rob Pelinka may be looking to add another experienced two-way player at the guard position, and he could do so while simultaneously poaching a sufficient free agent option from a Western Conference rival, the Golden State Warriors.
At just 27 years old, De'Anthony Melton has proven to be one of the more reliable 3-and-D guards in the entire Association.
The 6-foot-2 combo-guard certainly showed this in only six appearances as a member of the Warriors prior to suffering a season-ending ACL sprain this past season, as he contributed 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals while knocking down 37.1% of his career-high 5.8 attempts from three-point range.
As a prospective member of the Lakers in 2025-26, Melton could be utilized as a perfect backcourt partner for the slower-footed Dončić on the defensive end and a consistent catch-and-shoot threat on offense.
Golden State will likely look to bring Melton back on a team-friendly deal to compete for another shot at a title with 4-time NBA champion Stephen Curry, but the Lakers could possibly sway the gritty guard into accepting a heftier contract to partner with James and Dončić instead.
If the Lakers are able to bring the former eighth-place finisher in Sixth Man of the Year voting in 2021-22 with the Memphis Grizzlies aboard, he might become a valuable piece of the franchise's championship puzzle for their next campaign.
