The Los Angeles Lakers signed free agent Tyler Ennis, meaning their pursuit of free agent Ian Clark has ended.
The Los Angeles Lakers have wanted to overhaul their backcourt this offseason. It has been the main focus of their postseason plans and they have succeeded in doing it.
The first move they made was the point guard spot. When D’Angelo Russell was traded to the Brooklyn Nets, the Lakers immediately filled the point guard hole with Lonzo Ball. Josh Hart, who is capable of playing both backcourt spots, was also added in the 2017 NBA Draft.
At the beginning of free agency, Nick Young decided to opt out of his deal with the Lakers. He would sign with the Golden State Warriors. The Lakers would replace him in the starting lineup with former Detroit Pistons shooting guard, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. To make room for Caldwell-Pope, the Lakers had to waive last season’s surprise, David Nwaba.
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The depth chart in the backcourt was beginning to materialize. Ball and Caldwell-Pope should be the starting backcourt. Combo guard Jordan Clarkson should fill in nicely as the sixth man as he is capable of playing both spots.
The Lakers look to be upgraded in the backcourt, but there was still a need. Los Angeles needed to find a point guard that could provide some mentorship to Ball and give them some minutes as a backup.
That need was filled this week. The Lakers decided to re-sign Tyler Ennis to a two-year deal worth the minimum. ESPN’s Ramona Shelbourne shared the news of the two sides agreeing on her Twitter account.
Lakers have agreed to a one-year minimum contract with Tyler Ennis. Team option on Year 2, per league source.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 25, 2017
As a result, the Lakers search for a backup point guard is now over. It also means that they are no longer pursuing free agent, Ian Clark.
The Lakers had been linked to Clark for a majority of the free agent period. While a contract was not offered, Clark is someone the Lakers were reportedly interested in from the onset of free agency. The two sides finally met last week, but it did not result in a deal, as the Lakers went in another direction.
Signing Ennis makes sense for the Lakers. He was with the team last year and didn’t cost them much. A veteran’s minimum with a team-option for the second year means it is a win-win for the Lakers. Either Ennis succeeds and is locked in for the second year, or they can cut bait if he struggles.
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By signing Ennis for the minimum, the Lakers still have their mid-level exception to use. If there is another area on the roster they want to upgrade, they now have a little extra money to spend on a free agent. Clark probably would have cost the Lakers that mid-level exception, but now the Lakers can use that elsewhere to put the finishing touches on their roster.