Lakers might shockingly sign disgraced former No. 1 overall pick this summer

The Los Angeles Lakers’ roster will look a lot different in a few months.
Regardless of how far the Lakers advance in the upcoming NBA playoffs, big changes are on the way this offseason as Lakers GM Rob Pelinka will begin crafting a long-term roster plan around newly acquired superstar Luka Dončić.
It’s easy to imagine what types of players Pelinka will go after. Lob-threat centers and three-and-D wings pair well with Dončić.
On the other hand, Pelinka and the Lakers might make a move or two that shocks the NBA.
Believe it or not, when LA Clippers asset Ben Simmons becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason, Pelinka might check in on Simmons, who is represented by Klutch Sports Group’s leading agent Rich Paul, a close friend of LeBron James.
Simmons isn’t going to attract a robust market based on his diminished reputation as a guy who’s barely ever available, so the Lakers might be able to snag him on a cheap deal.
The former No. 1 overall pick and Rookie of the Year from 2018 is still just 28 years old, and there’s time for him to resurrect his career if he’s interested in doing so.
For Simmons to rekindle his value on the Lakers, he’d have to destroy the notion that he’s a point guard and instead serve as a small-ball five for Los Angeles on the offensive end while providing versatility on defense.
J.J. Redick has done a splendid job since the Luka-Anthony Davis trade of keeping the Lakers’ defense strong despite lacking a lot of size on the depth chart. Redick clearly knows how to build a team defense, even with less-than-ideal roster situations.
Plug the six-foot-ten former Defensive Player of the Year candidate Simmons into Redick’s game plan, and Simmons could turn into a great defensive force yet again.
On the offensive end, Simmons’ inability to shoot is a terrible fit for the Lakers — there’s no reason to ignore it. Luka and LeBron thrive when surrounded by floor-spacers, and Simmons is one of the worst outside shooters in the league.
But if Simmons could evolve into something of a rim-running big man on offense, he could be of value based on what he provides defensively.
People have given up on Simmons, and he certainly hasn’t proven that he loves basketball enough to will himself toward a second era of productivity in the NBA. In fact, Simmons’ complete lack of availability at times has resulted in him becoming somewhat of a disgrace to large segments of basketball fans.
But for a low price, Simmons would be an interesting guy to take a chance on, especially given his ties to LeBron.