The Los Angeles Lakers have had a number of Hall of Famers don the purple and gold. Here are the 10 greatest free agent signings in the history of the franchise.
The Los Angeles Lakers have won 16 NBA titles in franchise history. They’ve seen many of the greatest players to ever play the game gear up in the Lakers gold uniform. From Kobe Bryant to Magic Johnson, to Shaquille O’Neal, this list goes on and on.
Another exciting NBA off-season is mostly in the books for this year. The Lakers over the years have been a big name destination and have lured the marquee names to play in Los Angeles. This will again be the case next summer when the Lakers front office gears up to make a run at one or more all-star players.
Keeping this in mind, let’s take a look back at the top 10 greatest free agent signings in Los Angeles Lakers history. The first we will take a look at is an All-Time great.
Greatest Free Agent Signing All Time – Number 10: Magic Johnson
One of, if not the greatest Laker of all time, Magic Johnson played with Los Angeles from 1979-1990. He changed the way the point guard position was played, as he was the tallest point-guard to ever play, at 6’9″. After 12 seasons with the Lakers, he then retired from the NBA when he was diagnosed with HIV.
After a few seasons of retirement, Magic attempted to make a comeback. The Lakers signed him once again via free agency for the 1995-96 season. Although, it was a short comeback. Magic played only 32 games during that year, starting just nine. He averaged 14.6 points, 6.9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds.
After years away from the game, he was nowhere near the player he once was, but he cemented his legacy with the Lakers. Throughout his career, he averaged 19.5 points, 11.2 assists, and 7.2 rebounds. He won a total of five championships with the Lakers and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.
Greatest Free Agent Signing All Time – Number 9: Gary Payton
Payton played 13 seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics and half a year with the Milwaukee Bucks before hitting free agency in the summer of 2003. Just like a player that you’ll read in the next slide, Payton was chasing a ring towards the end of his career. During his career with the SuperSonics, he averaged 18.2 points, 7.4 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game.
He was a player that would bring toughness, defense, and the ability to score to a Lakers team coming off a disappointing season the prior season. Payton had made it clear, he was pursuing an NBA title to finish off his otherwise great career. He will go down as one of the best point guards of all-time, and one of the best defensive point guards to ever play.
He proved his toughness as he played all 82 games during the 2004 regular season. During his only year with the Lakers, he averaged 14.6 points, 5.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.
Greatest Free Agent Signing All Time – Number Eight: Karl Malone
Malone will go down as one of the greatest players to never win an NBA title. He played 18 seasons for the Utah Jazz from 1985-2002. During this time, he had climbed all the way to the number two on the all time scoring list.
After three straight championships in Los Angeles, the Lakers failed to win the title in 2003. During that summer they were looking to add a proven experienced player. That player turned out to be Malone.
The Lakers signed Malone to a one-year, $1.5 million deal. It’s worth noting Malone turned down $17.7 million from the Jazz, in order to pursue his first title, with the Lakers. This was his last chance as he turned 40 that season.
Though his one season with the Lakers was injury riddled, as he missed 40 games, they still made it to the NBA Finals against the Detroit Pistons. Malone re-injured himself in game 5 of the 2004 NBA Finals and the Lakers ultimately lost the series.
Even though this signing didn’t pay off with a championship, it is still worth noting, as they acquired arguably the best power forward of all-time. Malone, now a member of the Hall of Fame, finished his short Lakers career averaging 13.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists. Those numbers are even more impressive when accounting for his age.
Greatest Free Agent Signing All Time – Number Seven: Brian Shaw
Brian Shaw was a dependable player throughout his career with many teams. He played for the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, and Orlando Magic before getting signed by the Lakers. During the 1998 offseason, he inked a deal to join Los Angeles. He decided to team up with Shaq and Kobe.
Shaw was a hustle player that would never stuff a stat sheet. Yet, he would hit clutch three point shots, get steals at the right moment, or play lockdown defense when needed. He also went on to win three championships with the Lakers.
During his time with the Lakers, he averaged just 4.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. In their three playoff runs, it seemed Shaw would come up in the clutch, or when the Lakers needed a much-needed basket. That’s what he will be remembered for the most. He has since been a coach in the NBA with the Denver Nuggets, and currently an assistant on the Lakers coaching staff.
That’s what he will be remembered for the most. He has since been a coach in the NBA with the Denver Nuggets, and currently an assistant once again on the Lakers coaching staff.
Greatest Free Agent Signing All Time – Number Six: Kurt Rambis
Another overlooked player for most of his Los Angeles career, Kurt Rambis was a big part of the Showtime Lakers. In 1981, after a short stint with the New York Knicks, the Lakers signed him. At the time, nobody thought this would turn out to be a good signing.
Just like Shaw, mentioned previously, Rambis was never a player that would put up big numbers; he did all the little things a team could ask for. Rambis played seven seasons for the Lakers from 1981-1987. He won titles during the 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988 seasons. The Lakers also won the Pacific division every year he was apart of the team.
The moment during Rambis’ career that will always be remembered is during the 1984 NBA Finals when Kevin McHale close-lined and knocked him to the floor. Rambis immediately got up and got into McHale’s face. He always had his teammates backs and brought intensity to the team.
Overall, during his Lakers career, he averaged just 4.9 points, along with 5.5 rebounds a game. Time and time again he would get key offensive rebounds to change the momentum of games. He also shot 55 percent from the floor during his career with the Lakers.
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.
Greatest Free Agent Signing All Time – Number Four: Ron Artest (Metta World Peace)
Coming off an NBA championship season in 2009, the Lakers signed Ron Artest, who has since changed his name to World Metta Peace. During the 2008-09 season with the Houston Rockets, Artest averaged 17.1 points, along with 5.3 rebounds a game, and hit free agency that summer. The deal with the Lakers was a five-year deal that would pay him $33 million dollars.
Though Artest had the ability to score, he was brought in to provide toughness to the defense, and he did just that. He had a knack of shutting down an opponent’s top scorer any given night and could put the ball in the basket when he needed to.
The biggest moment of Artest’s Laker career was during the 2010 NBA championship versus the rival Boston Celtics. With Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol both struggling during Game 7 of that series, Artest provided just enough offense, and a critical three point shot, that propelled them to another NBA title.
Artest finished that game with 20 points, five rebounds, and five steals. Not to mention the lockdown defense he played on Paul Pierce the whole game. In all, Artest averaged 11.0 points, and 4.3 rebounds during that season. He went on to play three more seasons as a Laker. He returned to the team for another go-round, playing the past two seasons with the Lakers.
Greatest Free Agent Signing All Time – Number Three: Jamaal Wilkes
A name many may not know, Jamaal Wilkes had quite a career in Los Angeles. Wilkes attended UCLA during his college career and was selected 11th overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 1974 NBA Draft. After playing three seasons with the Warriors, he hit free agency in 1977.
Wilkes winded up joining the likes of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Los Angeles. He went on to win three NBA titles as a Laker, taking home the championship in 1980, 1982, and 1985. Playing alongside two superstars, he was continuously overlooked during these years.
Wilkes was a two-time NBA All-Star as a member of the Lakers and a member of the All-Defensive second team in 1977. His best year was during the 1980-81 season in which he averaged 22.6 points and 5.4 rebounds.
During Wilkes eight seasons as a Laker, he went on to average 18.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.2 steals a game. He played 575 career games and scored a total of 10,601 points. Wilkes currently is 10th all-time in Lakers history in points scored.
Greatest Free Agent Signing All Time – Number Two: Derek Fisher
One of the winningest players in franchise history, Derek Fisher was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996. He was a key role player in their three championships from 2000-2002. He then left Los Angeles and played the next few seasons with the Golden State Warriors and Utah Jazz.
The Lakers then re-signed him in 2007 to be a veteran leader. It was a perfect fit as he already knew the offense, and would easily slide into the backcourt as a steady ball-handler. During his second stint with the Lakers, he’ll be remembered for his clutch shots.
Arguably, his most memorable moment was the game-tying three point shot he made to force overtime during Game 4 of the 2009 NBA Finals versus the Orlando Magic. He also hit another clutch shot later in that game:
During his second stint with the Lakers, Fisher played 82 games every season. He averaged 8.9 points, 2.8 assists, and 1.1 steals a game. Fisher is second all-time in Lakers franchise history in three-pointers made, trailing only Kobe Bryant. He is also fifth all-time in games played.
Greatest Free Agent Signing All Time – Number One: Shaquille O’Neal
Without a doubt, the best signing in Los Angeles Lakers history. Shaq was drafted number one overall in the 1992 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic. After four seasons in Orlando, Shaq hit free agency in the summer of 1996. The Lakers signed him to a seven-year, $121 million mega deal.
After a few up and down seasons in Los Angeles, the move ultimately paid off big time with NBA titles in 2000, 2001, and 2002. During the 2000 season, O’Neal won the regular season MVP award, in which he received 120-of-121 possible votes. During that season he averaged 29.7 points, 13.6 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks a game.
O’Neal also won three NBA Finals MVP’s during his time as a Laker. O’Neal and Kobe Bryant formed one of the most dominant duos in all of basketball during those championship years.
Ironically, his Lakers career came to an end in 2004, when the Shaq and Kobe feud reached a boiling point. They could no longer co-exist on the same team, and the Lakers chose to keep Kobe on the roster.
Next: 50 Greatest Players In Lakers Franchise History
Overall, during eight seasons in Los Angeles, O’Neal averaged 27.0 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks a game. O’Neal is one of the most dominant centers of all-time and ranks in the top-10 of multiple categories in Lakers franchise history, including No. 1 in player efficiency rating.