Lakers Laying the Foundation: Xavier Henry
Xavier Henry is yet another intriguing piece in the process of the Lakers laying the foundation for the future
The Los Angeles Lakers have reached a point of the season in which they should be considering adding players who can potentially make an impact next season and beyond. While it would be wise for the team to create roster spots and begin to add players before the season ends, these players will be options for the team in the offseason as well.
This series has already analyzed several players who could potentially provide the team with future assets and contributors. This entry however, will differ from the others in that the player being profiled has actually already spent significant time in the purple and gold. Xavier Henry played for the Lakers in 2013-14 and quickly became a fan favorite by producing highlights such as this one:
Unfortunately, Henry’s time with the Lakers ended with multiple injuries, culminating in a ruptured achilles that saw him sidelined for almost a year. Despite these hardships, Henry recently made his debut in the D-League this season for the Santa Cruz Warriors.
Although it will take the swingman some time to get back into playing shape, the Lakers can definitely afford to be patient with him, particularly because his skill-set fits the team extremely well. As an athletic small forward, Henry provides the Lakers with something they are almost completely lacking this season.
During his last stint with the Lakers, Henry proved that he could be a valuable secondary scorer by attacking the rim and showing the beginnings of a solid jump shot. His impressive physical profile also allowed him to be a solid defender at times, although the team’s defense was so poor overall it was difficult to gauge his impact.
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Interestingly, despite his considerable amount of time in the league, Xavier Henry is still only 24 years old, which means he is only slightly older than players like Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. This is important because it could allow him to become a part of the Lakers young core, most likely as an athletic scoring option off the bench.
Imagining Xavier Henry running the floor with current Lakers like Nance Jr., Black, and Clarkson is an extremely exciting prospect. The Lakers have the ability to become a lethal squad in transition and bringing Henry back into the fold will only make them more dangerous. The energy and athleticism which Henry leverages on a regular basis could provide a lift for a Lakers team that has been deathly dull this season.
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Although Xavier Henry may still have a considerable road ahead in order to regain the form he showed with the Lakers a few years ago, the Lakers can afford to wait for him to recuperate. The addition of an athletic wing who can grow alongside the Lakers young core is an opportunity the Lakers should not pass up and, if Henry is not brought on-board this season, he should absolutely be given an invitation to camp for next season.