The Lakers are still in desperate need of young talent to add to their core and Tony Wroten could be a start
The Los Angeles Lakers front office seems to have finally realized that their current group of veterans is not serving the team well as they have been actively shopping multiple players as of late. However, those veterans will still need to be replaced with young players, a process that is not always easy.
The “Laying the Foundation” series will be examining players who could potentially be signed by the Lakers in order to contribute both this year and into the future. After examining Christian Wood as a solid candidate for the team, this article will focus on another player who was released by the 76ers: Tony Wroten.
Tony Wroten is an athletic guard in his fourth season in the NBA after being selected in the first round by the Memphis Grizzlies after a single season in college with the Washington Huskies. Even though he’s a veteran in the league at this point, he is still only 22 years old, which aligns perfectly with the Lakers current group of young players.
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Despite being released, Wroten has proven that he can produce at the NBA level, averaging 17 points and five assists last season in Philadelphia. However, his efficiency and shooting ability is a concern as he shot only 40 percent from the field and 26 percent from three-point range last year.
Although Wroten has his flaws, the benefits far outweigh the concerns for the Lakers. Firstly his length and athleticism at the point guard spot could help the Lakers greatly both on defense and in transition. Standing 6-5, Wroten could help solve the defensive issues caused by Marcelo Huertas and Lou Williams.
Secondly, Wroten’s ability to serve as a playmaker off the Lakers bench can help to revitalize the Lakers stagnant offense. Using his quickness, the young guard excels at getting into the paint and either finishing at the rim or dishing it out to his teammates.
Additionally, because Wroten is still quite young, it is not unreasonable to expect his jump shot to improve over time. If Wroten becomes a more dependable and efficient shooter, his value could skyrocket. For that reason alone, it would be worth it for the Lakers to acquire his services in the near future.
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When the situation is examined, Tony Wroten makes far more sense for the Lakers than does Marcelo Huertas. While Wroten would fill a similar role as a reserve guard, he would bring far more to the table than Huertas is capable of. If the Lakers can find a way to shed Huertas’ contract and open up a roster spot, replacing him with Tony Wroten would be an improvement both for this season and the future.