Free agent misses
In both Cleveland and Miami, James was surrounded by outstanding shooters. The Lakers added two first-rate snipers in the draft, Moritz Wagner and Svi Mykhailiuk. They even signed a third, Malik Newman, to a two-way contract. But their playing time could be limited behind this influx of lesser-shooting veterans.
The signing of Stephenson, Rondo and McGee to short, one-year contracts is designed to maintain flexibility to add an additional star free agent or two next summer. Primary targets will likely be Kawhi Leonard and/or Jimmy Butler. But it’s still puzzling that the Lakers chose the three new players they signed rather than others available. As Joe Wolfond wrote for “The Score”:
"“They certainly could have done better than Rondo and Stephenson… The Lakers could’ve employed that same strategy and still put together a significantly better supporting cast than the current one. Guys like Trevor Ariza, JJ Redick, Tyreke Evans, Ed Davis, and, of course, (DeMarcus) Cousins all signed one-year deals and figure to offer better bang for the buck – for players who would be more logical fits on a LeBron-centric roster – than the guys the Lakers signed instead. While the Lakers used $9 million of their cap space on Rondo, the Philadelphia 76ers used $12.8 million to take on the final year of Wilson Chandler, getting a better roster fit and draft-pick compensation in the bargain”."
All year long it was advocated here that the Lakers should re-sign Julius Randle, who had a breakout 2017-18 season. But of course Magic let him go. Here’s how Wollund put it:
"“All the more vexing, in an ostensibly corresponding salary-shedding move, they renounced promising young big man Julius Randle, who subsequently agreed to an eminently reasonable two-year, $18-million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans”."
One final point that makes you wonder. Last year the Laker players, following the lead of Coach Luke Walton, displayed excellent on-court chemistry. The additions of Rondo and Stephenson virtually guarantees that will not be the case this year. Instead there’s a risk that things might blow up, even with James’ larger-than-life presence.