3. Jimmer Fredette
There is one thing the Lakers need to add; shooting. And there is one thing that Jimmer Fredette can do: shoot.
His career did not go the way he thought when he was drafted in 2011 as one of the most anticipated sensations of the NBA. He ended up bouncing from team to team, finally landing in China in 2016. There he became the top player in the league, scoring tons of points every night and also winning the MVP.
Fredette would represent a commodity at the end of the bench for the Lakers, costing the veteran minimum of a player who has just six years of experience in the league.
Of course, his defense is what mostly kept him out of the league, but his offensive talent is undeniable. He averaged 37.6 points per game in his first season in China and in November of last year he scored 75 points in a game.
Jimmer could take the court from time to time and try to provide a scoring punch for the Lakers in limited minutes, spreading the floor helped by the playing style originated from LeBron James’s presence, while a solid team defense could help to hide his deficiencies.
His most recent stint in the NBA with the Phoenix Suns was not very successful, seemingly putting an end to his NBA dreams, but someone else is already willing to give him another chance.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, things are moving for Fredette in order to allow him to join the Golden State Warriors’ Summer League team.
The Phoenix Suns will decline guard Jimmer Fredette’s team option for the 2019-20 season, clearing way for him to play for the Golden State Warriors in NBA Summer League, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 24, 2019
A strong showing in the summer is what might convince LA to give him a chance and add a misunderstood talent at the veteran minimum with zero risk to a team in hunt for a championship.