2. He’s young
After trading Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and three first-round draft picks to the New Orleans Pelicans for Anthony Davis, as well as jettisoning D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, Ivica Zubac and Larry Nance Jr over the past couple years, the Lakers are in need of a few young complementary players that they can develop for the future.
Well, look no further than Alex Caruso.
He’s only 25 and has only played a total of 62 NBA games so far, which means he’s not only young, but he also has very little mileage on him. If they continue to gradually bring him along, he could end up being in the Lakers’ rotation for years to come.
They don’t have many other players who are 26 or younger on their roster as of now – Anthony Davis, Quin Cook, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma and second-round draft pick Talen Horton-Tucker are the others – and given their cap situation, it would serve the team well to put a premium on player development.
It can also be a way to build lasting team chemistry, as they could retain these players rather than go out and sign guys to replace them and have to rebuild that budding chemistry anew.