Lakers Sign Undrafted Forward Jonathan Holmes
By Eric Yee
The Lakers have been fairly active in the past few days, granting auditions to multiple players like DJ Kennedy and Toure Murry, getting in the running for free agent JaVale McGee and now signing undrafted forward Jonathan Holmes to a multi-year contract.
At 6 foot 9, 240 pounds, with a near 7-foot wingspan, the Holmes acquisition is an obvious attempt by the Lakers’ brass to gain consistency at the forward position. My first impression was that Holmes would be brought on board in order to see if he actually fills this need, but the multiple-year deal signals that the Lakers are committed to developing him over the next season or two.
Holmes is a physical player with tremendous lateral quickness for his size, who moves great without the ball. Additionally, he works hard to box out on every possession and is versatile on both sides of the floor. You can’t teach heart and this is one thing Holmes has in abundance, whether it be diving on the floor for loose balls or ferociously crashing the offensive glass. His motor is similar to that of Larry Nance Jr., which is something the team desperately need. Holmes looks like another great steal by the Lakers.
With that in mind, this signing brings about many implications, the first being that Holmes represents the 15th and final roster spot on the team, meaning the Lakers can no longer sign players. This would not normally be a concern, but considering the Lakers signed Robert Upshaw to a two-year deal that was never finalized, it most likely means that Upshaw is out.
From the jump, I have been an avid Upshaw supporter, but apparently the Lakers feel that Holmes fills a more immediate need than Upshaw. While moves could still be made, most likely centered around Robert Sacre or Ryan Kelly, we can only hope that the Lakers don’t make the same mistake they did with Hassan Whiteside almost a year ago.
From his Draft Express workout video you can almost immediately tell that Holmes represents the prototypical stretch four that the league is trending towards. This assumption is solidified by his mention that he is working on extending his range to beyond the three-point line, better defending on the perimeter and how he considers himself a versatile forward.
Further, he compares himself to the Atlanta Hawks’ Mike Scott, a stretch forward, which would be a welcomed addition to the Laker squad. Let’s just hope he mirrors Scotts’ on-the-court production rather than his off court struggles.
The Lakers are putting together a nice young core of dynamic players. Tell us what you think about the Jonathan Holmes signing in the comments below.