The Los Angeles Lakers have been playing chess, not checkers, this offseason. With LeBron James officially re-signing and the front office quietly patching up weak spots on the roster, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka has built a solid foundation without triggering headlines. But now, the buzz is growing louder, and the whispers surrounding Bradley Beal are turning into real conversations.

The Lakers have already made some calculated moves this offseason. They drafted Adou Thiero, signed Jake LaRavia for shooting depth, and recently acquired Deandre Ayton in a shock move. Now, after re-signing Jaxson Hayes, Pelinka might be saving the best for last. Two high-caliber guards are both reportedly on the Lakers’ radar, and with Beal likely hitting the open market any day now, all signs are pointing toward something big brewing in Los Angeles.

The Lakers haven’t made a headline-grabbing blockbuster yet. However, Bradley Beal is on the verge of becoming a free agent following a likely buyout with the Phoenix Suns. As The Athletic reported, the Suns and Beal are “increasingly optimistic” they will reach a buyout agreement that stretches his remaining $110.8 million over five years. That buyout would make Beal unrestricted, and league sources told Fred Katz that the Lakers are firmly on his radar. “Teams Bradley Beal could consider joining if he is bought out by the Suns include the Clippers, Warriors, Lakers and Bucks,” reported Katz.

Simultaneously, two other names are being strongly linked to the Lakers: Malcolm Brogdon and De’Anthony Melton. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, both guards are on the Lakers’ list: “League sources say that the Wizards are open to sign-and-trade discussions to facilitate Brogdon’s exit from Washington… that list includes the Clippers, Suns and Lakers as well as the Warriors, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Kings and Bucks.”

Despite Brogdon’s injury history and limited appearances in the last two seasons, he boasts career averages of 15.3 PPG, 4.7 APG, and a 38.8% efficiency from three. This makes him a compelling target for any team needing a secondary ball-handler and floor general. For the Lakers, he’d bring veteran poise and backcourt leadership, whether off the bench or while sharing time with Austin Reaves and LeBron.

Then there’s Melton, another name drawing consistent links to L.A. for weeks. Per Fischer, “we’re just still expecting he will eventually sign with the Lakers.” The versatile combo guard brings much-needed perimeter defense, transition offense, and sneaky-good shooting over 36% from deep for five straight years. While injuries have slowed him recently, if healthy, he could be the Lakers’ sleeper steal of the summer.

Is Rob Pelinka’s new decision the calm before the storm?

Pelinka’s approach to this offseason has been quiet, calculated, and potentially brilliant. By filling roster needs incrementally and staying within financial guardrails, he’s left just enough flexibility to strike when opportunity knocks. Beal’s buyout? It might be the door he’s been waiting for. Instead of chasing a single expensive star, Pelinka’s path has been layered: a high-upside draft pick in Thiero, improved shooting with LaRavia, a high-risk/high-reward center in Ayton, and depth re-signings like Hayes. None of these scream “title favorites,” but together, they lay the groundwork for one final punch. 

“Acquiring a starting-caliber center was the top priority for us this offseason, and we believe Deandre is an amazing solution to that objective and is an ideal player to add to our current core,” Rob Pelinka said, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “Deandre’s size, mobility and athleticism will allow both paint scoring and paint protection. Deandre’s playoff experience as a starter on an NBA Finals team also aligns well with our ultimate Lakers championship aspirations.”

After failing to land Mark Williams last season due to a failed physical, the Los Angeles Lakers found redemption in Ayton. His 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game last season in Portland weren’t flashy, but his presence changes the geometry of both ends for L.A.

Ayton anchors the paint, giving LeBron and AD the interior partner they’ve long lacked. Then came Jake LaRavia. On paper, another under-the-radar addition. But Pelinka sees a perfect fit, “Jake is a high IQ two-way player with ideal skills for a JJ Redick basketball system,” he said. “He’s a disruptive defender who uses his size and physicality to create turnovers. Offensively, he can score at all three levels and has a knack for creating space for himself and his teammates.” It’s a roster slowly taking shape around Redick’s vision.

Meanwhile Beal, once a franchise cornerstone in Washington, has been quietly efficient despite injuries and fading star power. His 2024-25 numbers; 17 PPG on 50/39/80 shooting splits show he still has gas in the tank. And his 42.5% corner-three mark over the last two seasons fits snugly alongside LeBron’s drive-and-kick game and Ayton’s interior presence. Should the Lakers land Beal, and either Brogdon or Melton, we’re suddenly looking at a transformed rotation. Importantly, the Lakers also wouldn’t have to give up core pieces like Reaves or Hachimura in these moves, a massive win for chemistry and continuity.

Plus, if Beal’s truly motivated to chase a ring at this stage of his career, he’ll embrace a complementary role alongside LeBron and Luka Doncic. Sounds like a win-win, for sure.