Los Angeles Lakers: Predicting 3 free agents team will actually sign

Omri Casspi, SF, Minnesota Timberwolves

2016-17 Salary: $2,963,814

2016-17 Stats: 5.2 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.6 SPG, 46.7 FG%, 34.9 3P%

As previously mentioned, Pelinka and the Lakers are focused on making upgrades in the shooting department this offseason. That emphasis was apparent with the team’s 2017 draft picks, and should continue to be during free agency.

One cheap option that could give Los Angeles some better shooters off the bench is Omri Casspi. The Israel native has proven to be a reliable weapon on the wing throughout his seven-year NBA career, connecting on 36.7 percent of his three-point shots. Although that’s not a wildly impressive number, it’s better than anyone currently on the Lakers roster.

What also makes this an interesting fit is the team’s lack of depth at small forward. Brandon Ingram figures to start in 2017-18, but Luol Deng is the only realistic backup available. However, he’s injury-prone and may not even be around with the Lakers trying to trade away his albatross of a contract.

Casspi, however, would be an ideal option off the bench at small forward. He’s an experienced veteran with a reliable jump shot. A broken thumb put a damper on his 2016-17 season, but he should be back to full health at this point. Signing him wouldn’t be anything to celebrate, but the Lakers could definitely do worse.

I wouldn’t expect him to demand much more on the open market than he earned last year. If that’s the case, he’s just the cheap depth the Lakers need to round out this roster.