LOS ANGELES — No, Plan B is never optimal.

Especially when Plan A is to sign Kawhi Leonard, pair him with LeBron James and Anthony Davis and transform the Los Angeles Lakers into the NBA’s newest superpower.

Leonard agreed to terms with the Los Angeles Clippers and they traded for Paul George. However, the Lakers’ Plan B looks more than adequate.

That’s because Plan B included agreeing to deals with big man DeMarcus Cousins, sharpshooter Danny Green and Splash Brother understudy Quinn Cook. The result: The Lakers got deeper, more balanced and acquired enough talent to be considered a title contender.

Last season, the Lakers were the team that couldn’t shoot straight — at least from deep — ranking 29th of the league’s 30 teams in 3-point field goal percentage (33.3%). That figures to change during the 2019-20 season thanks to Plan B.

Green, a key member of the Toronto Raptors championship team last season, ranked second in 3-point percentage at 45.5%. Better than Steph Curry’s 43.7%, in fact. Though Green averaged only 10.3 points per game, he figures to get more shots with the Lakers.

Cook, a backup behind Splash Brothers Curry and Klay Thompson with the Golden State Warriors, shot 40.5% from 3-point range last season. He averaged only 6.9 points per game, but he made clutch 3-pointers during the NBA Finals and, like Green, figures to get more minutes and shots with the Lakers.

Thanks to Plan B, the Lakers’ inside game looks better too. In addition to Davis, the Lakers have added Cousins, who as a member of the Warriors showed a hint of his once-dominating skills during the NBA Finals once he returned from a torn quadriceps. The Lakers also are bringing back rim protector JaVale McGee.

Back come guards Rajon Rondo and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, both of whom will help bolster the backcourt. And don't forget Kyle Kuzma, who has All-Star potential and for the Lakers may eventually help form a legitimate Big Three, if not a Big Three “on steroids," as Jared Dudley, another Lakers acquisition, described the prospect of Leonard, James and Davis suiting up in purple and gold.

Sure, the Lakers must feel stung after losing out on Leonard to the once-lowly Clippers. But thanks to Plan B, the Lakers are no longer L.A. laughingstocks either.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Josh Peter on Twitter @joshlpeter11