Among the many needs addressed by the deadline trade, one, in particular, should immediately impact the Los Angeles Lakers and help them improve in the second part of the season.
The trade executed at the deadline by Rob Pelinka provided the Los Angeles Lakers with what they needed and were looking for. Salary cap flexibility and a first-round pick in the upcoming draft is a good haul.
Isaiah Thomas and Channing Frye came as welcomed side effects in the trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers, supposed to immediately help on the floor.
Though on rent and still in search of his rhythm coming back from a hip injury, Thomas is a former All-Star and MVP candidate who constitutes an upgrade to Jordan Clarkson.
His multi-skilled offensive set, as well as Channing Frye’s knack for shooting, should provide the Lakers with the fundamental aspect of the game they lacked the whole season. Three-point shooting.
A career 36.3 percent 3-point shooter, Thomas shot 37.9 percent last season in Boston, attempting 8.5 threes per game. Everyone expects him to become an offensive force coming off the bench for L.A. and he will benefit off a lot of open looks as his teammates normally shy away from shooting from behind the arc, opting for the penetration.
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Although Frye will probably not log many minutes as incapable to keep up with Lakers’ fast pace at 34 years old, he built his entire career on three-point shooting as a floor-spreading big man. He caused quite a few problems for the purple and gold in the 2010 Western Conference Finals.
The Lakers are currently first in the league in points in the paint and second in fast break points, while last in three-point shooting.
Adding such an important aspect of the game to the other ones they already excel at should boost their offense to an unprecedented level, making them a matchup nightmare for the opponents.
The additions are already producing results (at least on the offensive end). In his first game as a Laker, Thomas hit four threes on eight attempts for a team total 16 3-pointers made. On par with league-leading Houston Rockets, per Basketball-Reference.
Unfortunately, the team effort was not the same on the defensive end as they allowed the Mavericks 130 points.
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Regardless of the single night result, this new dimension needs to become a constant in Lakers’ game, as combined with their fast break and paint production (and the hope to rediscover a consistent defense) could push them in the hunt of higher positions on the board.