5 Bargain free agents Los Angeles Lakers should target in 2017

James Johnson, PF, Miami Heat

Okay, so maybe James Johnson isn’t going to be the cheapest player available this offseason. However, despite his breakout 2016-17 campaign, there’s a good chance he could still be a bargain based on the impact he can provide.

This past season, Johnson brought in only $4 million with the Heat. More than likely, he’ll command much more on the open market this offseason after putting together a monster year. Throughout the regular season, he averaged 12.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.1 blocks per game. That type of production will absolutely warrant a raise when free agency rolls around.

Still, depending on the asking price, nabbing him could be a bargain for the Lakers. He’s a tremendous talent who goes out and does whatever is asked of him. Whether he’s coming off the bench or picking up a spot start, chances are Johnson will be making a big impact in a number of areas.

So why not dish out some money to bring that type of talent to Los Angeles? I know cap space is limited, especially after the Lakers wasted money on Timofey Mozgov and Luol Deng. However, grabbing an impact player like Johnson will help get this franchise back on track.