Los Angeles Lakers: 2020 free agents to aid the guards in minutes

Alec Burks

Burks has had himself a pretty decent season. He made a change in location during the latter half of the year that completely changed the dynamic around him, but he made it work.

Burks spent the first 48 games of the season with the Golden State Warriors, where he mostly served as the spark off the bench, though he started in a number of games. In his time with the Warriors, he averaged 16.1 points per game while shooting 37.5% from deep.

He spent the final 18 games of the regular season with the Sixers. He only started once out of those games, but off the bench, he averaged 12.2 points per game while shooting an even more efficient 41.6% from three.

Burks is a great sized two guard that can even play some point guard if need be. With a group like the Lakers, he can provide scoring production similar to that of a starter, and can lead their second unit’s offense.

He isn’t really a catch-and-shoot guy, though he can obviously shoot off the catch. Instead, he finds himself coming off screens and handoffs, putting the ball on the floor and creating within the pick and roll or just on the wing. Burks also has a knack for creating his own shot, and values the mid-range as well.

It would be ideal for Burks to be the guy that is in the game when LeBron exits. The Lakers just lack a second guy who can create for themselves (and possibly others), and they brought on Dion Waiters hoping he could be that guy. But, whether it’s his lack of great decision making or lack of defense, Vogel refuses to give Waiters the time of day.

However, Burks is capable of creating for himself and being the guy to possibly initiate the offense within the second unit, and he’s actually a decent defender.

If the Los Angeles Lakers do continue to have Kyle Kuzma come off the bench through next year, the two could fare well together, and constantly get each other going on offense.