What if I told you the Lakers had a 6’7″ wingman who had marksman range? Not only does he have marksman range, but he’s nearly automatic from deep, shooting 42.8% from three last year. And, unlike most other Lakers perimeter players, isn’t a horrid defender? Hell I probably had you sold on the first sentence, but this is what the Lakers have on their summer league roster in Marcus Landry.
July 18, 2012; Las Vegas, NV, USA; New Orleans Hornets forward Lance Thomas (42) and Phoenix Suns forward Marcus Landry (40) during the first half of the game at Thomas
Landry played for the Reno Bighorns last year and put up a respectable stat line of 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.0 steal per game. But what’s most interesting about him, certainly for Lakers fans, is his 42.8% three point shooting. It’s not a case of a small sample size skewed by a stretch of great shooting. No, Landry was 128 for 299 in 35 games last year, an average of 3.6 makes on 8.5 attempts per game in 36.8 minutes per game. For reference, Jodie Meeks 36-minute average is 2.6 makes on 7.4 attempts. In theory, he’s a bigger, slightly better shooting Jodie Meeks.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Landry doesn’t have much else in his offensive repertoire. He’s a chucker, much like Nick Young, and one of the last things I imagine the Lakers want is another offensive black hole. Only twice in 35 games last year did Landry have more than two assists in a game. Only once did he shoot less than four threes in a game. In his defense, while he chucked up a lot of shots, he makes a good amount to. Nevertheless, Landry does possess a very quick release and never hesitates when jacking up a shot. If he’s open, he’s shooting. If that confidence can translate into the summer league, then into training camp and games for the Lakers, his chances of making the team only increase.
Landry is certainly a long-shot to make the Lakers next year, especially given Chris Douglas-Roberts plays the same position and new signing Young has the same offensive skill set. However, it’s hard to say no to a shooter if he’s a good one. The Lakers lacked perimeter shooting for the majority of last year and Landry can certainly bring that to the table if he makes the team. Don’t hold your breath on Landry, but don’t count him out, either.