With their open roster spot, the Los Angeles Lakers should sign free agent guard, Jamal Crawford.
One week ago, the Los Angeles Lakers free agency journey took an exciting and much-needed turn. Luol Deng‘s contract was bought out and was placed on the stretch and waive provision program.
With the $7.5 million returned to the team by Deng, the Lakers are projected to have around $38 million dollars in cap space for the 2019 free agent class which includes Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard and Klay Thompson to name a few.
But as I have noticed that the readers don’t want to know about next year. They want to know what needs to happen now. Well Lake Show Lifers, let’s figure it out together.
By the Lakers waiving Deng, not only does it clear cap space off the books, but it opens up a roster spot for the 19 man training camp that happens in a matter of weeks.
According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelbourne, she lays out the Lakers intentions in this tweet…
This gives Lakers a max slot next year, roster spot this year and means they don’t have to give up an asset to shed Deng’s contract in a trade. I’m told Lakers don’t have an immediate plan for the open roster spot. https://t.co/aSx1jCdLLZ
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) September 1, 2018
What you can’t see on these twitter posts are the comments, which are hilarious at times. Believe it or not, a lot of comments stated Nick Young, who played a few years in the past.
The argument that he should be signed was laid out by my colleague, C.J. Mendenhall on why “Swaggy P” should be signed.
But the majority of the comments circled around one player…
Lake Show Lifers, if you loved Lou Williams, you will absolutely adore Jamal Crawford. He is a former three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year, which by the way is an NBA record.
When you have more awards than players like Kevin McHale, Ricky Pierce and Detlef Schrempf who had two, this is firepower and instant offense off the bench, which the Lakers need.
Plus, there is some history of interest between Crawford and the Lakers. Last summer, according to Marc J. Spears of ESPN’s Undefeated, Jamal is a fan of Lonzo Ball and welcomed the idea of sharing the backcourt with him.
This will be a hot topic of conversation over the next few weeks that is if the Philadelphia 76ers don’t make a move and sign him first. But here are a few reasons why the Lakers should sign Jamal Crawford…They need to hurry, some players have voiced their opinions…like the NBA’s Rookie of the Year Ben Simmons…Courtesy Brandon “Scoop B Robinson”…
When asked about the state of Jamal Crawford coming to the Philadelphia 76ers, Ben Simmons just told me: “He Needs to come through"
— 👑 Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) August 30, 2018
Cc: @JCrossover #Sixers #BenSimmons #JamalCrawford pic.twitter.com/pppDN61QHm
Kemba Walker is in shock that Crawford is not on a team…I mean what gives here!
Based on how this team is built, Jamal Crawford will fit in. One year deal and you know exactly what you are getting as a professional basketball player. Let’s break some advantages.
Los Angeles Lakers Free Agency reason number one…The dude can score in his sleep.
Not shoot Lake Show Lifers…SCORE! Jamal Crawford can get on the team bus and score a basket. His handles are one of the craftiest in the league outside of “Uncle Drew” Kyrie Irving.
Contrary to the lack of efficient scoring that Crawford has lacked over the last few years, understand he can do something that a lot of LeBron’s teammates could not do in Cleveland and it can apply to a couple of Lakers players as well. Jamal Crawford can create his own shot when needed. Plus he is not afraid to shoot the ball at the end of the game.
Jamal Crawford has been criticized in a sense for getting himself in trouble and taking heavily contested shots. That may be true, but let’s take a closer look that.
The majority of the teams Crawford played for were non-playoff teams. Most of them, in his early career, basically stunk, especially in Chicago and New York. I think it will be very interesting to see what Crawford can do with his handle with the defense loaded up on LeBron James, Rajon Rondo running the offense and with a free-flowing offense that will afford Crawford not working so hard to get his shot off so deep in the shot clock.
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Los Angeles Lakers Free Agency reason number two…Those handles bring entertainment value.
Sure, say…So? If you’re asking that question, you do not know the essence of the Lakers and do not know the business plan of the late Dr. Jerry Buss when he invented Showtime back in the 80’s. James Harden was in L.A. when he shook Wesley Johnson to the floor in the Staples Center. How many times did that highlight play on SportsCenter? If I remember the ESPN LA studios are across the street. Jamal Crawford has the potential to make spectacular highlights every night.
The Los Angeles Lakers are about entertainment. Sure championships are at the top of the list, but it is a foregone conclusion that the Lakers are not in contention for a championship. Why not bring excitement to the Staples Center on the floor next year while Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka pave the roadway for the future of the franchise?
Los Angeles Lakers Free Agency reason number three…He’s good for the locker room
How good? Crawford took home the 2018 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year. This award is voted by a player’s peers. This guy is great for any NBA locker room. The Lakers could use a teammate with his unique talent.
Jamal Crawford can provide leadership for the young guys…Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart and Brandon Ingram. The locker room will be an intimidating spot at times for these guys, especially when things are not going as great as fans or the media would like. Jamal Crawford has been through these things (Remember Lob City across the hall?) and can mentor these guys and keep them from losing their identity. If Rajon Rondo is brought in to mentor Lonzo Ball, Jamal Crawford can take on some of the other players on the roster.
Los Angeles Lakers Free Agency reason number four…He’s cheap.
How many free agents, in the pool as of this writing, can bring to the Lakers what Crawford can at the league minimum? Basically, you are getting a more in control player that Michael Beasley for a cheaper price. Plus, if the Lakers picked up the phone and called…I believe this is an opportunity that Jamal Crawford cannot pass up especially with the preseason starting at the end of the month.
A major sticking point for Jamal Crawford here will be playing time. He opted out of his player option with the Timberwolves he signed last year. It doesn’t shock anyone that possibly playing time was a definite issue here…
Here’s what he had to say on Scoop B Radio…
"“First off, minutes, that was definitely an issue”…”It really was because I didn’t know it would be like that. At this stage, you want to be out there as much as possible. I understand in certain situations you won’t play as much, but I was expecting one thing and it just didn’t go that way, so I think that’s when it started.”"
I don’t think that will be an issue here. You see the Lakers front office has been clear with everyone involved including LeBron James.
If Crawford understands that he may not get the 20-25 minutes that he got with the Clippers, he may be okay. But it is very difficult to see if he wants big minutes on the Los Angeles Lakers. He will be a situational player.
But if he is signed, I believe it will be a slam dunk signing for the Lakers…on the court and off.