Greatest Free Agent Signing All Time – Number Five: Rick Fox
Rick Fox, originally drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1991, played six seasons there, before hitting free agency. His best three point shooting season prior to joining the Lakers was during the 1994 season when he shot 41.3 percent from deep.
His ability to knock down the three, and play tough defense, was the reason the Lakers pursued him during the summer of 1997. In his first season with the Lakers, he showed his toughness by playing and starting all 82 games. During that year he averaged 12.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.
Lakers fans will remember Fox for being the team’s enforcer. He could always pick up the scoring slack on nights where Shaq or Kobe was struggling. One of his best games with the Lakers was during the first round of the 1998 playoffs versus the Portland Trail Blazers:
Fox was a crucial role player on three championship teams with the Lakers. He was apart of the Lakers dynasty in the early part of 2000’s. He wound up playing seven seasons in Los Angeles, 486 games in total, and averaged 8.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game.