Lakers Rumors: Channing Frye didn’t want to leave team
Recent Los Angeles Lakers news involve center Channing Frye, who wanted to return to the team but the feeling wasn’t mutual.
Los Angeles Lakers rumors have slowed down with free agency slowing down. The Lakers have filled out their roster, as they currently sit at the maximum of 20 for training camp. That will be pared down to 15 for the regular season, with two two-way players.
Once LeBron James signed with Los Angeles, Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka got to work filling out the rest of the remainder of the roster. Wherever James goes, veterans follow, and that occurred with the Lakers as well.
Los Angeles brought in a number of seasoned veterans. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was re-signed to kick things off. After that, Lance Stephenson, JaVale McGee, Rajon Rondo and Michael Beasley were brought in.
They are an eclectic group of players. Management wanted more playmakers and they accomplished that. However, none of them are great 3-point shooters.
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Los Angeles has struggled in recent seasons to knock down 3-point shots. They ranked second to last in 3-point shooting percentage at 34.5 percent. They tied for 19th with 10 makes per game and ranked 15th with 29.1 attempts per game.
That is what made the departure of center Channing Frye so surprising. Frye was acquired by the Lakers in a deadline deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Los Angeles acquired Frye, Isaiah Thomas and a 2018 first round pick, which turned into Moritz Wagner. In exchange, the Lakers sent Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. to Cleveland.
Frye was injured a majority of his time with the Lakers but has established himself as a very good stretch-5. He has knocked down 38.7 percent of his 3-point shots in his career.
That skill set is something that would have benefited the Lakers coming off the bench. Had Frye had his way, that is where he would have been. However, the feeling was not mutual.
Frye wanted to return to the Lakers, but they were not interested in re-signing him.
"While appearing on the Road Trippin’ podcast, the veteran big man stated that he wanted to return in the Purple and Gold, but the Lakers made it clear they wanted to move on from him. Frye went on to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he signed a one-year, $2.4 million contract:“Yes and no. Yes because I wanted to. No because they didn’t want me.”"
The Lakers’ intentions in free agency were clear. They wanted playmakers and versatile defenders. Frye, a 3-point specialist, was not a part of those plans.
With Frye signing with the Cavaliers, and Brook Lopez also moving on, signing with the Milwaukee Bucks, the Lakers have some minutes available in the frontcourt.
Wagner has some floor-stretching ability and could be relied upon for that this upcoming season. McGee and Ivica Zubac aren’t floor spacers, so Wagner has a chance to carve out a role this upcoming season.
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It will be something to keep an eye on. After struggling with 3-point shooting last season, letting two of their better shooters in Lopez and Frye leave as free agents is an odd strategy.