5 Bargain free agents Los Angeles Lakers should target in 2017

Derrick Williams, PF, Cleveland Cavaliers

Derrick Williams never quite lived up to the hype as the No. 2 overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft. Despite his underwhelming efforts in the league, he’s carved out a role for himself in recent years as a capable playmaker off the bench.

He’s currently serving in that role with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who likely don’t have the money to re-sign him this offseason. That, however, doesn’t necessarily mean he’s going to command big bucks on the open market. He played for the Cavaliers on a minimum deal this year, and likely won’t get much more than that during free agency.

That makes this an intriguing option for the Lakers. While power forward isn’t a huge need, Williams can serve as a capable No. 3 behind Julius Randle and Larry Nance Jr. He’s a solid scorer who can use his athleticism to help on the boards as well. He isn’t going to make waves as a part of the Lakers, but he can provide a cheap replacement if Thomas Robinson leaves via free agency.

As disappointing as Williams’ career has been, he’s still worthy of a roster spot at this point. Los Angeles needs more contributors off the bench who can make a difference on both ends of the court. Williams has the makings of an underrated signing for this Lakers squad.