Recent Lakers rumors are that they have decided to sign veteran guard Dion Waiters with their open roster spot.
As we get closer to the playoffs, most Lakers rumors have been about who they were going to be signing with their open roster spot.
Recently, the Lakers decided to waive Troy Daniels before the March 1st deadline in order to create an open roster spot. The Lakers also did Daniels a solid by letting him go early, so he could sign with a playoff team and be eligible.
The past few days, the Lakers worked out Dion Waiters and J.R. Smith. After Darren Collison decided that he was going to be staying retired, these two players were the front-runners to be signed by the Lakers.
Both players were reportedly impressive in their workouts, but it seems like the Lakers have made a decision. According to Shams Charania, the Lakers will be signing Dion Waiters.
Sources: Waiters, his agent Rich Paul and the Lakers had several conversations, they have been positive, and it's been made clear among all: This must work out for him -- otherwise, Lakers reserve the option to release him. https://t.co/rGL3xlxFvo
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 5, 2020
Of the two players, Waiters likely fits the playmaking need of the Lakers more than Smith. While Smith is a good three-point shooter and has won with LeBron James, he isn’t quite the playmaker he was in his younger days.
With Waiters, the Lakers will be getting a player that is capable of making things happen with the second unit as a ball-handler. This has been a need of the Lakers, as they have relied heavily on Rajon Rondo.
In his career, Waiters has averaged 13.2 points, 2.8 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game. In the season prior to this one with the Miami Heat, Waiters averaged 12 points, 2.8 assists and 2.6 rebounds in about 25 minutes per game.
While Waiters will have to earn his role with the Lakers, seeing him in playing in the low to mid-20s in minutes seems reasonable if things go right. Now that the roster is once again full for the Lakers, this will likely be the squad that we see going into the playoffs.
With the best record in the Western Conference and a couple new faces in Waiters and Markieff Morris, the Lakers are geared up for a title run.