The loss of Channing Frye is one that could hurt the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been a big part of free agency this offseason. They added a number of players, headlined by superstar LeBron James. However, when you are adding players to the roster, that means there will be players who leave as well.
The most important player that the Lakers lost this offseason was Julius Randle. Randle signed a two-year deal with the New Orleans Pelicans. Isaiah Thomas is also moving on, signing with the Denver Nuggets.
Both players were effectively replaced in free agency. James should take over the starting power forward spot. Rajon Rondo will take Thomas’ spot at point guard. The Lakers have other playmakers in Josh Hart and Lance Stephenson as well.
One player that the Lakers will struggle to replace is Channing Frye. Frye agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team that traded him, along with Thomas, to the Lakers at the NBA Trade Deadline in February.
Free agent Channing Frye has agreed to a one-year, $2.4M deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers, league sources tell Yahoo.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 14, 2018
This was surprising news. The Cavaliers look like they could be heading for a rebuild with James leaving town. While Frye isn’t a superstar, this is a big loss for the Lakers.
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The veteran center has turned into one of the better marksmen in the NBA at the 5. After losing Brook Lopez to the Milwaukee Bucks as well, retaining Frye was even more important. However, it was not in the cards.
The Lakers were not a good 3-point shooting team last season, and none of their signings this season will help that. Los Angeles signed JaVale McGee to help shore up the center position, but he leaves something to be desired and should not be playing big minutes. Ivica Zubac is behind him on the depth chart but is more of a lumbering, halfcourt center.
Floor spacing looks like it could be an issue for the Lakers this season. They have a number of players that won’t threaten opponents from behind the 3-point line. Frye would have helped alleviate some of those problems with his shooting prowess.
Frye is a career 38.7 percent shooter from beyond the arc. From the center position, that is especially useful. A stretch-5 is not easy to come by. Frye would have fit in perfectly as a floor spacer off the bench.
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With Frye moving on, this will open up minutes for rookie Moritz Wagner. Wagner has elite offensive skills for a center, including range out to the 3-point line. He should be given the first crack at replacing Frye in the lineup.