Like the Sacramento Kings, the Los Angeles Lakers are on a mission. They are looking for that third heat to put on the court with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, and that could end up being the Kings' Keegan Murray. Sacramento may be more willing to part with him than some think.
It would be easy to assume that a team like the Lakers are in a good spot. They are led by a generational talent in Doncic. They have a young star on the rise in Reaves. If they decide to retain his services, for a much lower price, they'll also have an aging, but still legit, LeBron James.
After that, things start getting more than a little dicey. Los Angeles has an almost decent bench, but they're lacking depth and versatility. There are a few guys who do one thing well, and that's it. If the Lakers want to be contenders, that has to change quickly to have an impact.
The problems also extend to their starting five. Assuming they have Doncic, James, and Reaves, the starters are rounded out by Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton. Smart is a solid defensive presence, while Ayton would have to try to be more useless. They need talent, and they need it now.
Murray would change the Kings' game
That's the reason Lake Show Life thinks the Lakers should be taking a strong look at Murray. He's got the shooting and defense Los Angeles needs to really start building around Doncic and Reaves. It doesn't fix their starting center problems, but the Lakers can have Domantas Sabonis, too.
Now, it would be safe to assume that the Kings are not ready to part ways with Murray. Last season, Sacramento signed him to a five-year extension that's worth $140 million and runs through the 2030-2031 season. They viewed him as the core of what they were trying to build in Sacramento.
Things change. Murray was on the shelf for most of last season due to injuries. In the absence of him and other veterans, players like the Kings' rookies and new additions stepped up. It changed how Sacramento viewed their roster and the rebuild process they're currently working through.
The Kings actually might be willing to have a chat with the Lakers about Murray, particularly if that conversation includes sending Sabonis to Los Angeles, too. There are no guarantees that Sacramento is willing to part with Murray quite yet, but anything is possible at this point.
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