The Los Angeles Lakers filled the final spot on their training camp roster, agreeing to a deal with point guard David Stockton.
The Los Angeles Lakers have gotten things underway for the 2019-20 season. Training camp began the last weekend in September and they are set to begin their preseason this weekend against the Golden State Warriors.
Many people thought the Lakers roster was set after Dwight Howard was signed but given a non-guaranteed deal to help replace the injured DeMarcus Cousins. However, that ended up not being the case.
The team had one spot remaining on their training camp roster, as they had 19 out of the maximum 20 spots filled. So, in preparation for their trip over to China, they decided to fill that last spot.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic/Stadium, the Lakers and point guard David Stockton agreed to a deal. The name may sound familiar, as Davis is the son of Hall of Famer and former Utah Jazz great, point guard, John Stockton.
The Lakers have signed guard David Stockton, son of Hall of Famer John Stockton.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 4, 2019
This is an interesting signing by the Lakers, as they already have a very crowded point guard spot. Rajon Rondo, Alex Caruso and Avery Bradley are all vying for the starting spot there, and that isn’t even including the playmaking duties that LeBron James will have.
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From that standpoint, Stockton is facing an uphill battle at cracking the team’s roster. It is unlikely that he beats out Howard for the final roster spot, as Howard fills a huge need on the roster. Despite his odds not being great at making the team, he is a solid addition for training camp.
Stockton brings plenty of experience to the table. While he has only had a cup of coffee in the NBA, appearing in six career regular season games, most recently with the Utah Jazz during the 2017-18 season, he has put together some good seasons elsewhere.
While playing in the D-League/G League with the Reno Bighorns for four seasons, he averaged 18 points, 7.1 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game. He can also shoot the ball well, as he knocked down 38.2 percent of his attempts from deep.
The former Gonzaga product also has international experience. He played overseas during the 2016-17 and 2018-19 season while also playing for Team USA’s World Cup qualifying team in 2017.
At 28-years old, Stockton is a steady, quintessential point guard. He will provide the team with extra depth during their trip in case they need to rest some of the regulars. It will also be a great chance for him to get back into the NBA, as the Lakers will be on national television every preseason game.
That is great exposure for him and other young guys looking to gain their footing in the world of professional basketball.