Los Angeles Lakers Rumors, News: 4 Free Agents Guards LA Can Sign, Paul George Still A Possibility In 2018?
While the Los Angeles Lakers have missed out on several big-name free agents this offseason, the team has injected a great deal of youth through the draft. New team president Magic Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka added point guard Lonzo Ball with the No. 2 overall pick, as well as forward Kyle Kuzma, swingman Josh Hart and big man Thomas Bryant.
But the Lakers are still lacking in point guard depth. Ball is only 19 years old and there will almost certainly be some growing pains for the talented playmaker. Behind Ball are Tyler Ennis and David Nwaba — two players who may not even make the roster. Jordan Clarkson is capable of playing point guard, but head coach Luke Walton probably prefers him to spend more time at shooting guard.
The Lakers already missed out on George Hill and the chances are slim that L.A. will sign Derrick Rose since a player of his age, salary demands and injury history probably doesn't fit in their long-term plans.
Walton almost certainly wants to add a shooter. The Lakers finished No. 19 in three-point shooting (8.9 per game) in 2016-17 and at a time when teams are placing added emphasis on scoring from beyond the arc.
Though the Lakers can strengthen the roster by adding a veteran, the front office seems certain to keep their payroll in check to attract a free agent superstar like Paul George, Russell Westbrook and possibly even LeBron James in 2018. George, who recently was traded to Oklahoma City Thunder, remains the most likely option, though the rumors linking him to L.A. may be overblown.
"It’s definitely been overstated," George told Sports Illustrated in an article posted Tuesday. "For me, it’s all about winning. I want to be in a good system, a good team."
George did admit to growing up a Lakers and Clippers fan, and idolizing Kobe Bryant, as well as claiming it would be "a dream come true" to play for his hometown. ESPN's Zack Lowe reported on July 1 that, "Every team, even George's suitors in Boston and Cleveland, thinks there is at least a 75 percent chance George stays true to his L.A. plans."
The remaining free agents this year aren't major difference-makers, but there are still some decent guard options for the Lakers in the upcoming season.
Ian Clark
Now that Nick Young is on the Golden State Warriors, Clark's future with the defending champions appears to be over. Reports have recently surfaced that the 26-year-old and the Milwaukee Bucks have a mutual interest.
Clark, who knocked down 61 of his 163 three-point attempts (37.4 percent), isn't expected to come with a hefty price tag, so the Lakers might be wise to pursue the 6-foot-3 combo guard on a short-term deal. Walton is familiar with the Memphis native, having coached him for one season in Golden State.
Monta Ellis
At age 31, he would be among the most seasoned veterans on the Lakers. Ellis is coming off his worst season since his rookie year of 2005-06, averaging just 8.5 points and just 27 minutes a game with the Indiana Pacers. But on a team loaded with youngsters, Ellis could be a much-needed scorer off the bench and an occasional starter.
Ellis probably still has something left. He's not far removed from the 2014-15 season with the Dallas Mavericks when he averaged 18.9 points per game and started in 81 games.
Ellis will have to sit out five games for violating the league's anti-drug program.
Ty Lawson
The New York Knicks and New Orleans Pelicans have interest in Lawson, but it's possible the Lakers swoop in for the troubled guard. The 29-year-old had been waived by the Houston Rockets in 2016 after serving a suspension for driving under the influence of alcohol.
But Lawson seemed to turn things around last season. He shot a respectable 45.4 percent from the field and averaged 9.9 points per game for the Sacramento Kings. Though he only hit 34 three-pointers last season, Lawson has a strong command of the game and is a solid distributor.
Rajon Rondo
On the same day he was waived by the Chicago Bulls, the Lakers reportedly showed immediate interest in the former Boston Celtics star. Of all the players on this list, Rondo is the only one who has been rumored to play for the Lakers.
The 31-year-old has been on three teams since leaving Boston in 2014 but posted respectable numbers last season, with averages of 7.8 points and 6.7 assists per game. Rondo is friends with Kobe Bryant, who still lives in Los Angeles and has maintained ties with the Lakers. The Knicks are also reportedly interested in Rondo.
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