Despite the ongoing NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers, like the rest of the league, are preparing for the offseason. The most important thing the Lakers front office has to accomplish this summer is making sure they retain LeBron James.

LeBron is going to be an unrestricted free agent this summer. If the Lakers want to re-sign him, they need to make sure they surround him with the right pieces, both in terms of coaching and roster. Considering that the 39-year-old only has a few more seasons left in him, the Lakers have to maximize the next few years to try to win another title.

There are a few moves the Lakers can make that would likely ensure LeBron staying. Bringing his son Bronny in is an obvious one, but what are some others?

Hire J.J. Redick

LeBron James’ co-host on his podcast ‘Mind the Game’, J.J. Redick is considered a frontrunner for the Lakers head coaching opening. There has been reporting that James has nothing to do with the coach search but that is difficult to believe.

It is clear that James respects Redick’s basketball intelligence. The former Duke star has been working as a TV analyst since retiring in 2021 and has impressed with his approach to basketball. It’s hard to imagine that Redick would be the frontrunner for the position if it wasn’t for LeBron.

Redick has no prior coaching experience. The Lakers job is one of the most challenging ones any head coach can have. Just ask Frank Vogel and Darvin Ham, who were regularly scapegoated despite working with less-than-optimal rosters.

However, Redick clearly has the upside of a great head coach. If LeBron James approves and the Lakers hire Redick, it will go a long way in keeping their superstar happy.

Trade for Trae Young

Even though The Athletic reporter Jovan Buha recently reported that the Lakers are not too interested in trading for a third star, it may be their only chance to get back to contender status.

As good as LeBron James and Anthony Davis have been last season, it’s evident that the Lakers don’t have enough around them to contend for a title. Plus, at this stage of their careers, it’s too much to ask of James & Davis to carry the workload they do in the regular season plus the playoffs.

For the Lakers to become a truly formidable team, James and Davis have to be able to manage their workload throughout the season so that they are fresh for the playoffs. For that to happen, the Lakers need an offensive engine to take on the regular season load.

Who better than Trae Young, who has consistently proven to be one of the best offensive players in the league?

Reporting out of Atlanta suggests that Young may be available in trade talks as they prepare for a potential rebuild. The Lakers have enough assets to trade for him using their three first-round picks.

Young and Davis would be an amazing pick-and-roll duo, while James and AD can cover for the defensive deficiencies he brings.

Young is arguably the best player the Lakers can realistically get this summer and they shouldn’t miss the opportunity to put another star next to LeBron.

Get Younger and More Athletic in Free Agency

One issue that ailed the Lakers in the last two postseasons was the fact that they were physically overwhelmed by the Denver Nuggets. Outside of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers don’t have much size, speed, and athleticism. They need to address that this offseason.

In the 2023-24 season, the Lakers who played the most minutes besides James and Davis were Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell, Taurean Prince, and Rui Hachimura. All four of these players are underathletic for their positions. They are not fast, physically imposing, or particularly dynamic. They are not very good defenders, either.

In the grand scheme of things, this is the main reason the Lakers underachieved this season. They don’t have enough quality role players. The ones they have are not two-way players, creating significant matchup problems depending on the opponent.

This should be a priority in free agency. The Lakers need to get young and athletic role players who can defend. Some potential free agents they could target are Kelly Oubre Jr, Precious Achiuwa, and Derrick Jones Jr.

If they can do that, LeBron James might feel like he can win with this team, potentially urging him to re-sign.