Steve Blake
Much credit to Steve Blake, who stepped up the most for the Lakers after Kobe Bryant’s injury. He scored 23 and 24 points in the final two games sans Bryant, knocking down 4 three pointers in each game. However, injuries derailed his season like many others, meaning those were far and away his two best performances. While he was a quite heralded signing when he joined the Lakers, he’s been a bit of a bust in his time here. He’s never found a consistent shooting stroke, can’t get to the rim as well anymore, and isn’t a good enough passer to validate his $4 million contract.
Blake’s $4 million dollar deal will provide the Lakers with some interesting possibilities this season. While Blake is aging, he still can provide quality minutes as a back-up. Come trade deadline, the Lakers will likely be sellers, especially considering they’re loaded with one-year deals. Blake’s affordable contract and skill set could lend himself to being dealt. If not traded, the Lakers will be looking to get younger, and that means Blake’s days as a Laker are done after this season, one way or another.
VERDICT: Steve Blake will NOT be a Laker in 2014-15