The Lakers cannot seem to catch a break when it comes to missing out on potential targets! Yes, the team led by the mighty LeBron James has been struggling to add assets of their interest to the roster. So far, the only new faces they’ve welcomed are their rookies, Bronny James and Dalton Knecht. In another unsuccessful pursuit thread, Rob Pelinka and Jeanie Buss have now lost two players to the foreign teams! While they would’ve been of great help to the Lakers, are things getting out of hand?

Boban Marjanovic, the 7-foot-4 center was approached by the Besiktas, a Turkish hoops club who will be starting their EuroCup run and season in the Turkish BSL this month, as per Meridian Sport. This will also be the first time Boban returns to Europe since 2015 if the Besiktas manage to sign him. Marjanovic was coming off his 2nd season in Houston. The 36-year-old had signed a one-year $2.8 million contract and is now an unrestricted free agent. He mentioned in August that he was waiting for an NBA team’s offer. And to many’s surprise, rumors suggested that the Lakers planned on bringing Marjanovic to LA.

But before discussing the pros and cons of the Serbian center, the other European player the Lakers missed out on was Cedi Osman. LeBron fans are aware of this name, as the two were teammates back in Cleveland for a year. Now, to a certain point, it makes sense to hunt for such a player. James has high praises for the Macedonian player and he’s also a decent three-point shooter. Not to mention, the 29-year-old can manage the responsibilities that would have come with this role, as he did when James left the Cavs. But what happened with his candidature? Well, rumors suggest that the forward “turned down” a training camp invite from the Lakers.

While it does seem like a surprising rejection, Osman signed with the Panathinaikos, the reigning EuroLeague champions. He spent his last year playing with the Spurs after he was involved in a three-team trade. Osman averaged 6.8 points and 2.5 rebounds while shooting just under 39% from three. Overall, Osman could have been a useful asset for the Lakers. Coming back to Boban Marjanovic’s candidature, the Lakers solely urged to sign him because of their vacancy for the fifth.

Yes, the giant center isn’t an optimal option when it comes to finding a replacement for AD. He averaged 3.2 points and 2.3 rebounds last season. Not only that but he only played 101 games in the last four years. However, what sets this big man aside from others is his influence off the court. Boban is one of the most positive players to be around. Keeping up with the energy in the locker room, it wouldn’t have hurt to sign him under a minimum contract.

Unfortunately, as the Lakers watch their two European targets plan to take their talents overseas, the franchise has taken an interesting approach for the team’s betterment.

Lakers hire a veteran coach, as they look to invest in ‘player development’

Bronny James, Dalton Knecht, Austin Reaves, and Max Christie seem to be the franchise’s future. And the Lakers are not shy about building and preparing these young guns for the upcoming challenges. They recently signed Zach Guthrie, who focused on a “holistic approach” to take control of their G-League affiliate. He has coaching experience in Utah, Dallas, and Washington, even helping names like Donovan Mitchell. This will help guys like Bronny, Knecht, and Christie connect well with each other and prepare them to take up bigger responsibilities on the hardwood.

Moreover, as the Lakers rock with the same roster this year, the franchise has placed a lot of trust in their new head coach. JJ Redick has been a fan favorite to call out plays from the sidelines during his stint as a sportscaster. On the other hand, considering how close he is to King James, it will be interesting to see the two together as the regular season approaches.

With the father-son duo and JJ Redick’s presence on the sidelines, the Lakers can expect sold-out arenas. Nevertheless, the Lakers will be taking on the Wolves on October 22nd to tip things off, as they hope to bounce back.

What are your thoughts on the offseason? Do you think Marjanovic and Osman could’ve been crucial assets? Let us know in the comments.

Feel that you can do with another update from the sport of basketball? Then do check out this recent interview with the up-and-coming Georgia Lady Bulldogs star Asia Avinger.