Let’s take a look at three players the Los Angeles Lakers might’ve been smart to hold onto this free agency.
During a rebuilding process such as the one the Los Angeles Lakers went through, it can be easy for fans to become attached to players who aren’t in the long-term plans of the front office. It can be frustrating to see them walk out the door after impressing fans and having a positive impact on the organization.
In the past few seasons, it’s been a little tough to see some of the guys the Lakers drafted, or acquired otherwise, move on to other teams. Lou Williams was quite the scorer and spark plug off the bench. Jordan Clarkson looked like he had some serious potential after being drafted in the second round. Larry Nance, Jr. could do it all, as team president Magic Johnson once referred to him as “our secret weapon.”
These are not the players that the Lakers should’ve held onto this past offseason, but it was sad to see each of them go.
Williams would’ve been great to have on the roster this upcoming season. However, thanks to the trade that sent him to Houston, the Lakers enjoyed a season and a half of Corey Brewer. More importantly, got Houston’s first-round draft pick.
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That pick fell at No. 28, which the Lakers flipped for draft rights to the 30th pick and the 42nd pick. That 30th pick is now Josh Hart, who showed in his strong rookie campaign that he belongs in the league, and can be an integral piece of the rotation for years. He also recently took home the Summer League MVP award.
Trading Clarkson and Nance, Jr. to the Cavaliers was a move to shed Clarkson’s salary to clear cap space. But, the Lakers got Isaiah Thomas (and Channing Frye) in return! Thomas had been a top-5 MVP candidate less than a year prior, averaging almost 30 points per game in the 2016-17 season.
I never cared for D’Angelo Russell, and trading him worked like a miracle. Not only did the Lakers get veteran center Brook Lopez in return, but also the No. 27 pick in the 2017 draft, which became Kyle Kuzma. Kuzma had one of the strongest Laker rookie seasons ever, quickly becoming a fan favorite.
So while I do miss Clarkson, Nance, and Williams, I understand why they were traded, and it worked for the benefit of the team.
However, there are 3 players from last season’s roster that the Lakers really should have re-signed.