Los Angeles Lakers: 3 starters to target in free agency
Patrick Beverley
Coming off a solid NBA playoff run with the Los Angeles Clippers, Patrick Beverley would be the perfect player to be the Lakers starting point guard if the Lakers were to choose quality starters over a 3rd Superstar.
Beverley has built his career as a hard-nosed, punch you in the mouth, get underneath your skin type of defender. The Lakers were able to see this first hand when Beverley tried to get under, at the time, rookie Lonzo Ball‘s skin and was fairly successful. He has also tangled with the likes of Russell Westbrook in the past leading to numerous altercations.
While Beverley is a superb defender, he is also a very capable 3-point shooter shooting 38% from three for his career (We are seeing a bit of a theme here. Shooting and defending). While none of his numbers are eye-popping, it is his intangibles as an aggressor, his never say die attitude and the sizeable chip on his shoulder that makes him an absolute nightmare for any team.
If you add Danny Green, Marc Gasol and Patrick Beverley to the Los Angeles Lakers, you get an extremely well balanced starting five. You have the likes of Davis, Gasol, Beverley and Green all capable of defending at a high level. LeBron is capable also but saves his energy for the playoffs.
Come playoff time, trying to lock down LeBron James and Anthony Davis will be a full-time priority for opposing teams. The Lakers will be able to get buckets from these two guys, but knowing that you can kick it out to the 3-point line and you have three players capable of knocking down the 3-ball with consistency will warm any Lakers’ fans heart.
Add to that that when you go on defense you have numerous players who will lock their man on the perimeter, try come inside and you have Marc Gasol and Anthony Davis to contend with.
Will the Los Angeles Lakers choose quality depth or a third superstar? That’s for them to decide.