2017 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far
Tyler Ennis: 1 year, $1.5 million (Los Angeles Lakers)
Lakers have agreed to a one-year minimum contract with Tyler Ennis. Team option on Year 2, per league source.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 25, 2017
On a one-year deal worth the $1.5 million minimum (plus a team option for the second year, which will likely be the $1.6 million minimum), Tyler Ennis will return to the Los Angeles Lakers and supply a rebuilding team with youth and backcourt depth.
Ennis was best remembered for his surprisingly strong play at the tail-end of the Lakers’ tank job to close the season, averaging 11.8 points and 3.4 assists per game on .500/.500/.833 shooting splits over the team’s five-game win streak in April that nearly doomed their top-three protected pick.
Luckily, Ennis’ late-season heroics did not condemn the Lakers to losing a first-rounder, as they actually improved to No. 2 in the draft lottery. On a minimum contract, signing a 22-year-old floor general with room to improve in his game is a nice move, especially after not getting Derrick Rose. In fact, this is arguably a better move.
Bourguet Grade: B