The case for many of these players should be if Magic fails to pick up a superstar entirely. These are nice players on a “last-resort” stake if the chips fail Los Angeles’ way.
Wayne Ellington (SG/SF, Miami Heat, UFA)
Ellington, believe it or not, actually played for the Lakers back in 2014. This season, Ellington became the Heat’s deadliest shooter from downtown. Shooting 7.5 3PT per game at just a tad under 40 percent, Ellington became a consistent threat on spot-ups. Miami is locked up with multiple players being paid much more than him. Expect him to command somewhere north of his $6 million salary earned this year.
Marcus Smart (SG/PG, Boston Celtics, RFA)
Smart plays an elemental role for the Boston Celtics. His shooting numbers are horrific, horrendous, and any other troubling word you could think of. He plays a stalwart defense like a “bull in a china shop.” However, box score numbers do not tell the whole story. Smart knows his role and is an underrated passer. Like all Celtics role players, snatching him is a risky move. Many of them are Brad Stevens’ development pawns in his chess game. Smart could be another one of those chess pawns.
Tyreke Evans (SF/PG, Memphis Grizzlies, UFA)
The Grizzlies standout finally returned to form this season. He sat out for multiple parts at a time but ended up with a terrific bounce-back season. I picked him up in fantasy, and for almost all of the year, he ended up in the top-8 range for small forwards. Fantasy basketball might not be the greatest pin, but his individual statistics did spike from last year. Evans became the biggest outlier for a Grizzlies team that was never ultimately spectacular this season.
For Los Angeles, Evans could get out of the utter mess Memphis is in right now. His reawakening could be a positive change on the Lakers bench, and a statement season could mean his re-emerging campaign was merely not an aberration.
Enes Kanter (C, New York Knicks, UFA w/ PO)
Kanter is expected to resign a long-term deal with the Knicks. Should they decide to deal him away or allow him to sign with another team is ridiculous. Los Angeles can match an offer sheet with them.
For one, Porzingis might not play next season according to owner James Dolan. The Knicks were never committed to tanking or contending for the playoffs. With LeBron James, a power-hungry Raptors, rising 76ers, and Celtics, the Eastern Conference is still not open for grabs. I do not know if Kanter can take the pressure off him to be the leader of the franchise.
That being said, he would start in place of Brook Lopez were he to sign with Los Angeles. Kanter is known for his skills on offense and his lackadaisical defense. Whether the Lakers offer him a contract or looks into L.A. as a place to contend is a completely different situation.
"Other noteworthy candidates include J.J. Redick (SG, 76ers), Derrick Favors (PF/C, Jazz), Greg Monroe (C/PF, Celtics), & Will Barton (SG/SF, Nuggets)."