Los Angeles Lakers: 3 sharpshooting free agents to pair with LeBron James
By Dalton Sell
The Los Angeles Lakers should target Wayne Ellington in 2021 NBA free agency
Wayne Ellington suited up for the purple and gold during the 2014-15 campaign, and the Lakers should look to bring him back for a reunion next season.
The guard had himself a career year shooting the basketball with the Detroit Pistons by knocking in 42.2 percent of his triples on a career-high six attempts per game. As a result, many pegged Ellington as a potential trade target for the Lakers ahead of last season’s trade deadline, including The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III and John Hollinger (subscription required), who previously proposed they should trade for the guard to bolster their shooting on the perimeter.
That same principle applies this offseason as the 33-year-old will officially hit unrestricted free agency. Likely not going to secure a lucrative payday, the Lakers could look to entice Ellington back to Los Angeles with promises of a key rotational role and the chance to compete for a title with one of the most prominent contenders in the association. Of course, pitching the number of looks he could get playing alongside LeBron would not hurt either.
He might not be the flashiest name on the free-agent market, but Ellington fits the billing to patch one of LA’s biggest holes in their perimeter shooting. After a career year shooting the ball from downtown, the guard will have many suitors looking to utilize his services next season, but the Lakers should look to snatch him before someone else has the opportunity.