Los Angeles Lakers: Making sense of Magic Johnson’s signings

EL SEGUNDO, CA - JUNE 26: President of basketball operations Magic Johnson answers question from the media during a press conference to introduce the team's 2018 NBA draft picks at the UCLA Health Training Center on June 26, 2018 in El Segundo, California. TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
EL SEGUNDO, CA - JUNE 26: President of basketball operations Magic Johnson answers question from the media during a press conference to introduce the team's 2018 NBA draft picks at the UCLA Health Training Center on June 26, 2018 in El Segundo, California. TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Two head-scratching signings

Lance Stephenson– This is the most curious signing. It is difficult to find a more wildly inconsistent player in the NBA. He has played for six different teams in the last four years, mostly as a reserve shooting guard or small forward. He is known as a good defender but not much of a shooter, with a career 30 3-point field goal percentage.

He also has a reputation as a hothead who doesn’t get along well with teammates. The last time he signed with an LA team, the Clippers in 2015, he talked about how he would redeem himself… and lasted only half a season before the Clips were happy to dump him in a trade.

JaVale McGee– He has an unreal jumping ability for a 7-footer and excels at converting the lob pass. But he’s been a classic underachiever, never playing much more than a minor role. A career journeyman, he’s played for five different teams in his 10 NBA years and is known a bit of a knucklehead.

McGee’s career averages are rather ordinary. 4.8 rebounds and 7.5 points per game, and those numbers have dipped considerably lower over the last five years. At age 31, he’ll likely play no more than 10 minutes a game for the Lakers.

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