3. Wayne Ellington
Wayne was with us during our bleak time a few years ago. Now that things are looking better in Laker Land, it’d be a smart idea to bring him back.
He would immediately become our best shooting threat. Last season he shot over 39 percent from three on 14.2 attempts per 100 possession. Volume is not an issue, he can jack’em up, and he can make’em.
In addition to his 3-point shooting, he is also shot 85 percent for his career from the charity stripe. He doesn’t need to be in a featured role to flourish and should be more than comfortable serving as an off the bench spot-up threat.
At certain times last year, he was Miami’s most prolific scorer. When the offense would get stuck, he would bail them out with his shooting ability. With the slew of talented playmakers on the Lakers’ roster, he should have a much easier time getting open looks and producing on the offensive end.
Defensively, he is no slouch either. He’s strong in the post and agile on the perimeter. He bought into Miami’s defense last year, and would certainly buy into LeBron’s Lakers. Ellington’s been on playoff teams before has but never experienced much playoff success. He would be a crucial floor-spacing two-way wing for the Lakers come playoff time.
He’s on the last year of his contract. At roughly $9 million, the Lakers will have no problem absorbing his contract. With Miami venturing into luxury tax hell, they may potentially settle for a meager return in exchange for some cap relief.