Los Angeles Lakers: Realistic tier 4 free agents to target
By Ethan Temkin
4. Austin Rivers
Austin Rivers is one of the more enigmatic players in the NBA, where strokes of genius are undercut by ridiculous errors. But as of late, Rivers has carved out a role for himself, backing up Chris Paul on a Houston Rockets team that is currently 3rd in the West.
Rivers is never going to impress you with flashy ball-skills, jaw-dropping passes, or deadeye shooting. But what he will give you, every time he’s on the floor is tremendous effort and confidence. He’s also a versatile defender who can guard basically three positions at a competent level.
Rivers is as scrappy a player as they come, and can give the Lakers some physicality and defensive versatility at the backup guard spot. Sure, you’d never want him to handle the ball, but with a variety of ball-handlers already on this team such as LeBron James, Lonzo Ball, and Brandon Ingram, all you need Rivers to do is defend and knock down open shots, both of which he is currently excelling at on the Houston Rockets.