Los Angeles Lakers: Complete grades for the 2019 NBA offseason
Signed Jared Dudley
Filling out the bench on a contender is a difficult task, one often undertaken with limited resources. A front office will want to add some veteran contributors who have a track record of reliability, but are past their prime and therefore available for a lower number.
Jared Dudley fits that description perfectly.
The 6’7” forward out of Boston College has scraped out a long career as a role player, willing to do what a team needs and succeeding but never excelling at it.
The past few seasons he has settled in as a do-it-all forward hitting a respectable amount of his shots from deep and providing competent defense. The Brooklyn Nets acquired him for free from the Phoenix Suns and he was a key piece of their run to the playoffs.
The Los Angeles Lakers lost nothing bringing him in on a minimum contract, and he will be worth rotation minutes even as he enters his age-34 season.
For years the Lakers have struggled with locker room issues, and Dudley should be a steadying presence who can help bring the team together despite LeBron James’ passive-aggressive leadership style.
He can be to the Lakers what Richard Jefferson was to the title-winning Cleveland Cavaliers.
With very little opportunity cost and a need for veterans who won’t hurt the team, Dudley was a smart signing. He can play with or without James at either forward position and will likely be called upon to do so given this team’s depth issues.
Dudley won’t win a title, but he won’t be the reason they lose the title either.