Looking at five mid-tier players that the Lakers should target in 2016 NBA Free Agency
The Los Angeles Lakers are coming face to face with one of their most pivotal offseasons in quite some time as they look to continue towards a successful conclusion to their ongoing rebuilding process. They made the right decision to hire Luke Walton to be the next head coach of the Lakers, but now comes the decisions to make with the draft (assuming they keep their first-round pick) and—perhaps more importantly—in 2016 NBA Free Agency.
More lakers: Lakers: 5 Top-Tier Free Agency Targets
When it comes to the players that the Lakers are going to go after with their over $60 million in room under the salary cap this offseason, the first place that people and fans naturally look is to the top free agents that are going to be available. While Kevin Durant, Al Horford, and company all deserve their share of the attention, it takes more than just that to build a successful roster.
One of the most important things for the Lakers this offseason is that they fill out a solid roster from top-to-bottom to put around any max-contract players that they may sign and their young players already in place. In essence, they mid-tier Lakers free agent targets need to be thought through carefully.
With that in mind and knowing the holes and needs that this Lakers team has, here’s a look at five mid-tier players that the Lakers should target and pursue in 2016 NBA free agency.
Next: No. 5 Jeremy Lin
5. Jeremy Lin
Jeremy Lin spent the 2014-15 season as a member of the Lakers and both he and the fans would like to forget that year for the most part. Even through the tumultuous period that season was at the heart of in Los Angeles, though, Lin became a fan-favorite despite losing value in free agency heading into last season.
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For that reason, he ultimately signed a two-year deal with the Charlotte Hornets that pays him just over $2.2 million per season and has a player option for next year. However, he far outplayed that valuation this past season in Charlotte as he was an integral part of their playoff run this past year. Now he’s expected to opt out of that deal and test the market in free agency where he’ll definitely be given the money that a “mid-tier” player in this league is due.
Though Lin has said publicly that he’d like to re-sign with Charlotte, he’s a player that could really fit well into the Lakers as they’ve clearly taken steps forward since his last stay here. Having him as a third guard to come off the bench behind D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson—especially if the Lakers can deal Lou Williams this summer—would be an intriguing option. Given the spark he’s always been able to provide and what he showed with the Hornets, a Lin-Lakers reunion would be a nice option this offseason.
Next: No. 4 Jared Dudley
4. Jared Dudley
Jared Dudley has long been a quality player in the NBA, though his consistency can rightfully be called into question from time to time. However, he was one of the bright spots for the Washington Wizards this past season as they had a lot of things going wrong for them. Now Dudley is hitting the open market in 2016 NBA free agency and the Lakers should, at the very least, give some consideration to extending an offer to him.
Dudley finished this past season with the Wizards playing in 81 games and averaging 7.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 0.9 steals in 25.9 minutes per game. Moreover, the veteran forward hit on 47.8 percent of his threes and an impressive 42 percent from long range. He showed, even at 30 years old, that he can still be a two-way player and an effective inside-out presence that can affect games both on the interior and perimeter.
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While adding Dudley would allow the Lakers to put him at the four and play small-ball potentially, his biggest asset in LA would be his outside shooting. Given the Lakers struggles in that regard, adding a veteran player who has shot 39.9 percent from three for his career is all too sensible. Subsequently, targeting him in 2016 NBA Free Agency makes perfect sense for the Lakers.
Next: No. 3 Mirza Teletovic
3. Mirza Teletovic
When you look at the Lakers last season and even when you look at two of their brightest young players in Julius Randle and Larry Nance Jr., two power forwards, one thing that the team and the roster lack in a major way is versatility. As such, one of the things that they should be looking for when it comes to mid-tier free agents this summers is players that will allow them flexibility in their rotations and lineups.
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Coming off his lone season with the Phoenix Suns, one player who definitely fits that bill is forward Mirza Teletovic. Despite being in an absolutely awful situation out in the desert this past season that was full of misguidance and distractions, Teletovic still proved that he can be a highly effective player in this league. The 30-year-old Yugoslavian finished the season averaging 12.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game in only 21.3 minutes per contest and while shooting 39.3 percent from three.
Though he’s not the most proven of commodities, Teletovic is going to see some big offers as a stable veteran that can really stretch the floor as a power forward. Thinking about him coming off of the bench in Los Angeles is certainly intriguing and something the Lakers would be wise to pursue this offseason.
Next: No. 2 Timofey Mozgov
2. Timofey Mozgov
Much like that Lakers had this past season in the form of Roy Hibbert, the Cleveland Cavaliers have a center on their roster who really isn’t worth what they’re paying him at this point and will now mercifully be coming off of the books. However, the difference is that the Lakers could make an interesting move this offseason if they were to go after this player from the Cavs in the form of Timofey Mozgov.
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Mozgov is certainly a highly intriguing piece, especially considering what he’s been for Cleveland in the postseason, which is basically an expendable part. The Cavaliers have instead elected to go with their version of small-ball in their lineups and Mozgov has been the odd man out for the most part. However, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have any value in the right situation and the Lakers moving forward could potentially provide that role.
The Lakers obviously are going to have a hole at center with the departure of Hibbert, but it goes deeper than just filling that need. Mozgov has proven he can be a consistent and efficient offensive player while also having the size and strength to hold his own on the defensive end of the floor. At the right price, Mozgov should definitely be in play for LA.
Next: No. 1 Marvin Williams
1. Marvin Williams
Like we covered when talking about Mirza Teletovic, the Lakers roster desperately needs the addition of players who can bring versatility to the roster. In regards to forwards that could bring that to the roster at this “mid-tier” level, there’s no one that’s going to be available in 2016 NBA free agency this offseason that offers more of that than Marvin Williams, a veteran who played with the Charlotte Hornets this past season.
Despite his struggles in the postseason with the Hornets, Charlotte would have never been in that position had it not been for the play of Williams at forward. His ability to use his blend of length and skill on the size but also stretch defenses and defend on the perimeter with great skill and effectiveness. He finished the 2015-16 season averaging 11.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, and one block per game in just 28.9 minutes per game while shooting 45.2 percent from the floor and 40.2 percent from long range on the season.
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Considering how little versatility players like Randle and Nance Jr. actually give the Lakers at this early point in their careers, adding someone like Williams who won’t break the bank but will allow the team flexibility in terms of lineups will be huge for the young guys developing and for the Lakers being in the best spot to succeed.