If the Los Angeles Lakers took a deep dive into who’s left on the open market right now, they might be able to find some capable contributors who could be signed before training camp.
Right now, the Los Angeles Lakers‘ roster offers a lot of upside and limited experience–not exactly a winning recipe in the NBA. Unfortunately, the free agency pool has all but dried up as we near the end of August. Still, there are some noteworthy names floating around on the market.
The problem is that there’s often a reason they’re still available. Either there’s a lingering injury keeping them from signing a deal, or they’re playing hardball with their current team in hopes of striking gold. We all know how tedious free agency in the NBA can be.
Even with that being said, the Lakers would be wise to take another look or two at what’s available. This roster still has some holes that need to be filled, and there are players out there who can make an impact.
That diamond in the rough could be sitting by the phone waiting for a call right now.
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With that in mind, here’s my look at five current free agents (one restricted) who could come into play for the Lakers before training camp.
Next: A Familiar Face At SG
SG Xavier Henry
It wasn’t too long ago that Xavier Henry was the talk of the town in Los Angeles. On a team destined for mediocrity, he was a no-name player who had came out of nowhere to briefly shine for one of the NBA’s most storied franchises.
It was a great story, until numerous injuries cut his time with the Lakers short.
Now, he’s looking to make his triumphant return to the City of Angels. According to NBA.com’s Joey Ramirez, Henry participated in a minicamp with the Lakers on August 17 alongside a handful of other hopefuls.
The results appeared promising, as he showed well during drills and scrimmages and looked healthy.
So will this ensure him a spot on the Lakers’ 20-man training camp roster? Not necessarily, but it’s a step in the right direction. We’ve seen the type of impact he can have when given the opportunity, and could get another following his strong showing on Wednesday.
With Nick Young likely on his way out either via trade or release, the Lakers could afford to add some more depth at shooting guard. Henry would provide exactly that, with the potential to re-emerge as a reliable contributor.
Next: A 7-Foot-6 Behemoth From UC Irvine
C Mamadou Ndiaye
At this point, Mamadou Ndiaye is more hype than anything else. The 7-foot-6 undrafted rookie looks like a mythical beast out on the court. However, there are clearly concerns about his lack of polish as a basketball player that have limited his opportunities so far.
After the draft, he was picked up by the Golden State Warriors and spent time with the team during Summer League. Ndiaye then got an opportunity to participate in the aforementioned Lakers minicamp alongside Henry, so it’s clear they’re taking stock on the UC Irvine product.
While he’s a relative unknown at this point, it’s hard to ignore Ndiaye’s length. With that type of height and a ridiculous wingspan, he can be a headache on defense. Unfortunately, that size often leads to never-ending health issues and rarely is accompanied by immense athleticism.
Still, he’d be worth a shot during training camp, especially considering the Lakers’ lack of length. Nothing may come of him as an NBA prospect, but Los Angeles would be wise to kick those oversized tires.
The Senegal native has physical tools rarely possessed by humans. Why not give him an extended look and see if he really can make it in the NBA? Better to have tried and failed then to have not tried at all.
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SF Lance Stephenson
You probably have the same look on your face as Lance Stephenson does. Why would the Lakers sign a high-risk player like him at this point in time? It’s a good question.
However, I’m going to respond with a question of my own. If he comes at a reasonable price (likely), why not?
Stephenson may be a locker room pest and wildly inconsistent player, but we’ve seen what he’s capable of when he’s at the top of his game. The man can be a menace on defense, and even excels on the offensive end from time to time.
There’s so much potential to be tapped despite him being one of the NBA’s biggest headcases.
Seeing as the Lakers aren’t a contender in 2016-17, they can afford a gamble or two. Stephenson is obviously a huge gamble, but he’s likely desperate to play anywhere at this point. The Lakers can swoop in and sign him to a bargain-bin deal, and get more than just a bargain-bin talent.
It wouldn’t be any sort of solve-all for Los Angeles. It wouldn’t suddenly give this team the boost it needs to make the playoffs. But it would be a move that gives the Lakers an experienced starter who has the talent to shine if his head is on straight.
Again, you’ll never know until you try. What do the Lakers have to lose?
Next: The Only RFA Left On The Market
PF Donatas Motiejunas
Yes, Donatas Motiejunas comes with a lot of red flags. He’s constantly battling injuries, and is still on the open market (as a restricted free agent) largely due to a back problem that made the 2015-16 season a bad memory.
Although he’s said to be 100 percent healthy, no one has come calling to sign the power forward.
That, however, could be a blessing in disguise for the Lakers.
The 25-year-old Lithuanian is an excellent asset at the 4 spot–when healthy. He’s got the range to serve as an exceptional stretch-4, and the size and tenacity to still be effective when battling inside.
The tools are all there for him to be a terrific addition to any NBA lineup, but the durability is clearly turning teams off.
Considering the Lakers’ current roster, though, they could use some proven playmakers. At this point, Los Angeles has little more than high-upside prospects with limited experience. It’s a great foundation to build upon, but consistent wins are far from guaranteed.
Adding Motiejunas would give the Lakers flexibility at power forward while providing them more options off the bench. Heck, a healthy Motiejunas may even be able to push Julius Randle for some starts.
It would be a risky move, but it’s worth the potential rewards in my opinion.
Next: A Streaky Scorer Who Wants Big Bucks
SG J.R. Smith
OK, I’ll admit this is a bit of stretch. With that being said, J.R. Smith is technically a free agent right now, and will likely be looking for big bucks.
The Lakers happen to have big bucks to spend–at least if Young is moved.
At this moment, all signs point to Smith re-signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He’s enjoyed quite a bit of success during his time in Ohio, and shouldn’t expect anything else if he comes back. However, it’s clear based on the fact he doesn’t have a contract that talks aren’t going his way.
While it’s worth noting that his agent, Rich Paul, likes to play hardball, I’d imagine Smith getting anxious with no contract in place. It may even get to the point where he opens the door for another team to table an offer, which he hasn’t done since free agency started.
If that door was to open, I’d think the Lakers would at least be somewhat interested. Smith is a headcase like Stephenson, but offers more stable production and a higher ceiling. When he’s hot, he’s among the best shooters in the NBA–especially from three-point range.
I’m not saying that it would happen or even should happen. However, signing Smith wouldn’t be the worst idea for the Lakers if the opportunity presented itself.
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It wouldn’t be any worse than that Timofey Mozgov deal, that’s for sure.