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Los Angeles Lakers: Attainable Big-Name Free Agents

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 6, 2016; Miami, FL, USA;Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (c) dunks the ball over four Philadelphia 76ers in the second half of Sunday
Mar 6, 2016; Miami, FL, USA;Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (c) dunks the ball over four Philadelphia 76ers in the second half of Sunday /
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May 1, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Nicolas Batum (5) drives to the basket as Miami Heat forward Josh McRoberts (4) looks on during the first half in game seven of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
May 1, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Nicolas Batum (5) drives to the basket as Miami Heat forward Josh McRoberts (4) looks on during the first half in game seven of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Nicolas Batum, Unrestricted Free Agent

Position: Guard/Forward
Age: 27 (12/14/1988)
Slash Line: .426/.348/.849
Season Averages: 35.0 MPG, 14.9 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 5.8 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 2.0 3PM

Los Angeles Lakers fans are always on the prowl for superstar talent who can provide an instant fix to the team’s current problems. The modern NBA is catered more to teams with balance beyond a superstar, however, and that makes the first of five realistic targets a big one.

If the Lakers were to sign Nicolas Batum, it’d become significantly easier to build around the perennial All-Stars Los Angeles is targeting via trade and free agency.

Batum is one of the most versatile players in the NBA, and that’s something any team can work with. Batum is also an excellent facilitator, crafty ball-handler, respectable shooter, explosive athlete, and a feared defender.

If D’Angelo Russell truly is the future at point guard, then it would behoove the Lakers to add a wing who can do what he currently can’t: defend at a high level.

Batum, who stands at 6’8″ with a 7’1″ wingspan, held opponents to 42.5 percent shooting from the field in 2015-16—and he did so while defending all three perimeter positions. He was also No. 1 amongst shooting guards in rebounding and No. 2 in assists per game.

Throw in the 139 3-point field goals he converted in 2015-16, and Batum could be molded into Luke Walton‘s perimeter version of Draymond Green.

Next: Slashing Scorer

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