Los Angeles Lakers: 2020 free agents to aid the guards in minutes
By Joel Lorenzi
Tim Hardaway Jr.
The Dallas Mavericks have looked very similar to the Los Angeles Lakers this year in terms of team build. You have a floor general that controls the game (Luka), a star big man that can knock down the outside shot and play inside (Kristaps, though not as dominant as Anthony Davis), and a surrounding core of guys that can shoot the ball.
The first round of the playoffs has proved that the Mavericks core/bench is stronger though, as it has willed them two wins against the Clippers, even in a game where Porzingis was absent. Plug some of these core guys into the Lakers roster and they fit very well, almost immediately making them Western Conference favorites.
One guy, in particular, is starting shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr. THJ averaged nearly 16 points per game this year and has shot the long ball at an efficient clip all year with an average of nearly 40% from deep (.398%).
MUST-READ: 40 greatest Lakers of all-time
THJ adds the same perimeter shooting that both KCP & Danny Green provide and adds more creativity within the offense. He may not have proved to be the defender that either of them is up to this point, but under the direction of Frank Vogel, he may take more pride in that end.
However, the offensive tools outweigh the loss of superb perimeter defense. Not only can THJ spot-up efficiently, but he can put the ball on the floor and get a bit creative as well. You can occasionally give him the ball late in the shot clock and he can go to work.
Often times THJ comes off down screens and different sets to free him up in the corner or at the top of the arch. THJ would excel in different sets that the Lakers run, like double down screens along the baseline, sets where LeBron is creating at the elbow and many more.
He is an innate shooter coming off screens, and even when the defender forces his way over a screen, THJ can take two dribbles into the midrange and drill that solid pull-up jumper he has.
He can immediately contribute as a starter for the Lakers and is a guy that would not only excel spotting up with LeBron on the floor, but also a guy that can possibly run a pick-and-roll with Anthony Davis a couple of times throughout a game.