Lakers Rumors: What Lakers fans can expect from Reggie Bullock

We take a deeper dive into the most recent Los Angeles Lakers rumors, the reported acquisition of Reggie Bullock, and what the fans should expect from him.

Lakers rumors are flying around the NBA right now and we can now see that it’s not just all about Anthony Davis. The Lakers front office are making moves quietly behind the scenes. Don’t be surprised if there are shakeups similar to the exodus of players last year.

But you have to start at one and here it is, shared late last night on Lake Show Life by Kenneth Teape.

The Los Angeles Lakers traded Svi Mykhailiuk and a second round pick (reportedly for 2021) to the Detroit Pistons for Reggie Bullock according to Marc J. Spears.

This move was obviously to fill a need for an athletic shooter that brings experience to a lineup that is plainly moving from the youth movement. Social Media was ablaze with jokes on the LeBron James demolition act on the roster.

The Lakers front office may not get Anthony Davis, but they did a great job of flipping Svi, who had been struggling in all aspects of shooting all season, for a player in Bullock who is averaging 12.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists. Plus here’s the main reason the Lakers wanted him in the first place.

Reggie Bullock shoots nearly 39 percent from three-point range on six shots per game. The caveat for the Lakers is Bullock’s contract expires at the end of the year which means in Magic Johnson‘s world…

The salary cap space is safe…YES!

There will be plenty of fans that will criticize the move stating that Mykhailiuk did not have time to develop and the Lakers gave up on a young prospect.

Right…okay!

This deal is a steal for the Lakers. The Pistons are a team on the decline and Reggie Bullock is probably their best young prospect. Again, it provides flexibility and options on a bench that is deteriorating like a sand castle with the tide rolling in from the Pacific Ocean.

With two bench players in Michael Beasley and JaVale McGee having issues with Luke Walton and his rotation patterns (More on that later!), Bullock is a player that he can use coming off the bench or as a starter, where he was in Detroit.

Plus, he can be a fill-in for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who could be on the move in the next couple of days. The Houston Rockets scenario is unlikely considering the Rockets are looking to acquire Alec Burks from the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Let’s take a look at the Lakers shiny new toy…Reggie Bullock!

For Reggie, there is a friendly face in the place!

With Reggie Bullock being a Kinston, NC native, he is well acquainted with Brandon Ingram, who will always be linked with the old UNC/Duke rivalry that is rampant over the NBA.

Ingram is going to be a very important guy for Bullock to stick to through all over the changes that could go down in the locker room presumably over the next couple of days. The locker room dissension is plainly obvious to anyone that watched the Indiana game last night.

The supposed dust-up that happened after the Warriors game Saturday night whether you believe the incident was a big deal…

…or not…

Reggie Bullock is walking into a combustible situation here in the Lakers locker room! It’s not going to be easy to play a game the night prior, find out about a trade basically in the shower and hop a plane to play with a new team in 24 hours. That is a challenge for any player under the best circumstances.

Brandon Ingram is the absolute best example to follow for the next couple of weeks while getting acclimated to the Lakers system for the playoff run. Ingram, in my opinion, has handled all of the distractions better than most of the roster since the announcement of Anthony Davis wanting out of New Orleans.

Tensions are high right now and Bullock just needs to be a professional, play hard and learn quick!

Reggie Bullock is starting to find his NBA footing

When the Los Angeles Clippers drafted Reggie Bullock out of UNC back in 2013, there was not going to be a lot of minutes given to a rookie during the “Lob City” days.

He was a good shooter coming out of college, but the Clippers were a veteran-laden team headed up by Chris Paul. After being traded to Phoenix in a three-team trade in 2015, he then was dealt to the Pistons in the offseason.

Bullock has had his moments this season for the Detroit Pistons. He scored a career-high in points against the Minnesota Timberwolves dropping 33 points on the strength of seven 3-pointers.

Plus, he hit a game winner on the road to beat the Toronto Raptors. Think Luke Walton will be as happy as Dwane Casey was if Bullock can just consistently hit a jumper?

ESPN says it best… 

"According to Second Spectrum, Bullock is shooting 39.8 percent on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers this season. That would rank first among Lakers players with at least 50 catch-and-shoot 3s."

This works for the Lakers big time if he keeps this type of production up. Bullock was starting to have positive chemistry with Blake Griffin who demands the ball a lot in isolation within the Pistons offense. With LeBron James being a more willing passer to shooters in the corner, Bullock will have plenty of opportunities in the games coming up.

Does Reggie Bullock fit in with the Lakers short or long-term?

Well, Reggie Bullock is used to playing on a team where there is a lot of competition for playing time from the Clippers tenure. This Lakers team is another beast altogether.

At least he knew where he stood with Doc Rivers. Back then, it was sitting on the bench behind the veterans and getting into the game during garbage time. This is a Lakers roster with Lance Stephenson, Michael Beasley, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, LeBron James, Josh Hart…I could go on, get the picture?

Plus with the “questionable” rotation patterns of Luke Walton, it could be difficult for Bullock to find his rhythm and timing in an offense that he has to learn on the fly.

Where Bullock can definitely help the Lakers is moving without the ball.

Running off screens and cutting to the basket like this play right here can work in the positionless basketball scheme the Lakers want to run.

Plus his 3 point shooting will provide valuable spacing needed for LeBron James, Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma to operate when they attack the paint.

He speaks out against bullying and supports the LGBTQ community

When a hate crime struck Reggie Bullock’s family…

He teamed up with the NBA and the Detroit Pistons on a special “Pride Night” promotion to provide awareness for the LGBTQ community. Now the NBA provides education of the issues that the community faces in society and in the league as well. That is the primary goal according to Jason Collins… 

"“It was sort of built into the culture of sport as a way to attack someone,” Collins said. “You’re in a hypercompetitive, hypermasculine environment and my generation growing up, a lot of people’s way to be a bigger man was to challenge someone, challenge their masculinity, so homophobic language was used a lot of times as a way to do that.”"

The “Pride Night” promotions are spreading around the NBA. Even the Lakers had their own “Pride Night” promotion earlier in the preseason.

Los Angeles Lakers are bringing social awareness to the masses!

The Los Angeles Lakers won more than a game on Thursday night beating the Sacramento Kings. They won a battle of social issues as well. Ronald Agers probes!

The Lakers are getting a high character guy that fits exactly what they need right now going forward…

A shooter who is athletic and leaves flexibility in the summer. The Lakers have Reggie Bullock’s “Bird Rights” so they can sign him if he does well.

The Los Angeles Lakers are now past the halfway point in their long journey through the NBA season. Lake Show Life will be there every step of the way. Continue to check in for Lakers news, previews and reviews.