Los Angeles Lakers: 6 options at the shooting guard position

David Nwaba

Nwaba was a good end-of-season surprise. Called up from D-League for the defense and athleticism he showed with the Los Angeles D-Fenders, these attributes earned him two consecutive 10-day contracts and a two-year, non-guaranteed contract.

Backcourt defense was exactly what Walton struggled to find the whole season. Nwaba gave them some stability for the last stretch of the season with Lou Williams gone and the veterans shut down to provide the young players more playing time.

Nevertheless, along with his defensive abilities come his offensive limitations. As much as a gifted athlete he is, his offensive game does not go much further; his offense is pretty much limited to straight penetrations and cuts to the basket. He needs to work hard on his three-point shot in the summer to find a consistent role in Walton’s rotations.

Considering the possible desire of the coaching staff to keep Clarkson coming off the bench, Nwaba would represent a cheap fix for Los Angeles in case they strike out in free agency or he shows enough progress to deserve a promotion to the starting lineup.