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Lakers: 5 Under the Radar Free Agents LA Should Consider

By Christian Rivas

Feb 26, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton talks with guard D'Angelo Russell (1) in the first quarter against the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton talks with guard D'Angelo Russell (1) in the first quarter against the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jimmer Fredette

Mar 1, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Jimmer Fredette (32) drives to the basket past Portland Trail Blazers guard Brian Roberts (2) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. The Trail Blazers defeated the Knicks 104-85. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Jimmer Fredette (32) drives to the basket past Portland Trail Blazers guard Brian Roberts (2) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. The Trail Blazers defeated the Knicks 104-85. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

Before you start laughing, hear me out.

Selected with the No. 10 pick in the 2011 NBA draft, Jimmer Fredette has not and will likely never live up to his draft hype. While a handful of guards drafted after him, namely Klay Thompson, Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler, Isaiah Thomas, have signed multi-million dollar contracts since the 2011 draft, Fredette has bounced around the league quite a bit. Since being drafted in 2011, Jimmer has played with five different teams.

After struggling to stick on an NBA roster, Fredette decided to take his talents to China, where a number of former NBA players are working for an NBA comeback. Fredette has enjoyed great success in his lone season with the Shanghai Sharks, averaging 37.4 points, 4.3 assists and 8 rebounds per game.

He made headlines just last week after scoring 73 points in a double overtime game with the Sharks. No, that wasn’t a typo. 73 points.

Will that scoring translate to the NBA? Doubtful, but it’s worth taking a flier out on a guy that was the best player in college basketball just over five years ago.

In his senior season with Brigham Young University, Fredette put up a gaudy 28.3 points per game, earning him National Player of the Year honors by the Associated Press and Sports Illustrated. He was also awarded “Best Male College Athlete” at the ESPYs in 2011.

Can you think of anything better than “Jimmer Mania: Los Angeles”? Probably, but imagine how funny it would be if he proved himself to be an NBA player and won the Lakers a few games.

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