Los Angeles Lakers: 5 dream targets during 2019 NBA free agency

5. Khris Middleton, SG, Milwaukee Bucks (Player Option)

Often overlooked by your everyday NBA fan, Khris Middleton is one of the league’s best pure shooters. As it so happens, the Lakers need more players who can find the bottom of the net on a consistent basis – especially from beyond the arc. They are currently 26th in the league in 3-point percentage, after all.

Well, Middleton would be just what the doctor ordered in that regard. Right now, he’s connecting on 37.9 percent of his shots from long range this season, and 43.8 percent of his total field goals. While not a Stephen Curry-type of sharpshooter, he’s a dependable threat from anywhere on the court.

That’s exactly what the Lakers need to surround LeBron with. He needs players he can kick out to on the drive, allowing them clean looks at the hoop. The fact that the Lakers’ current roster hasn’t been able to capitalize on those opportunities has been part of their problem this season. It was during his days with the Cleveland Cavaliers too.

Likely becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2019, Middleton figures to garner significant interest on the open market. He’s already been mentioned as a potential target for Los Angeles, who have plenty of money to spend this offseason. In the middle of his seventh NBA season, Middleton will be eligible for a max contract that would pay him upwards of $30 million in the first year.

According to Yahoo! Sports’ Vince Goodwin, the Milwaukee Bucks plan on doing whatever they can to keep him. With Jabari Parker no longer on the roster, it’ll be all the easier for that to happen. However, if he does hit the market, expect the Lakers to kick the tires on one of the NBA’s most underrated 3-and-D stars.