Los Angeles Lakers: 3 player types the team needs to add in free agency

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 01: Head coach Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on from the sidelines during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors at The Arena in the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 1, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ashley Landis - Pool/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 01: Head coach Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on from the sidelines during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors at The Arena in the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 1, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ashley Landis - Pool/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Ashley Landis – Pool/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Ashley Landis – Pool/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers

3. A second facilitator

Rajon Rondo has been an interesting case study this season. While Rondo has looked solid at times and his veteran presence is a nice addition, he has looked bad more than he has looked good and many Laker fans were waiting for his departure after this season.

Rondo has a player option but the Lakers could essentially force him out, telling the veteran guard that they will simply trade him to another team for a future second-round pick (there will be a team willing to pay a future second for Rondo, especially because of his contract).

Regardless, we have gotten a taste of the Los Angeles Lakers without Rajon Rondo in the bubble and the results have not been as good as expected. Dion Waiters has been touted as the guy that could essentially take the job from Rondo with a strong showing in the bubble.

And while Waiters has been fun to watch, he is a ball stopper and has not really been facilitating as much as expected. I am not sure if the Lakers can trust in him being that secondary facilitator considering he is attempting over 10 shots in 23 minutes per game in the bubble.

It all depends if the Lakers do want to move on from Rondo or if they simply bring the veteran guard back.

If anything, I could see this being a need that the Lakers solve in the 2020 NBA Draft. Free agency is always an option as well and if they bring back Waiters then he would technically be a free-agent signing.