Los Angeles Lakers: 5 veteran minimum candidates to help the bench

3. D.J. Augustin

Here’s a name that has been swirled around in the past for the Los Angeles Lakers. Now that D.J. Augustin is a free agent, it could make an easier path for him to become a Laker. Trades have been tough to match with his salary, so now he could look to join a contender.

Augustin fits two areas with one player. He can handle the ball and he can shoot. He is a career 38% 3-point shooter which is very good for a point guard. He is also a very smart basketball player that protects the ball well.

He averages four assists per game for his career and only turns the ball over 1.5 times per game. There is only one season in his career he has averaged over two turnovers per game and has multiple seasons average less than a turnover per game.

He is shorter than most players at 5’11 but he uses his IQ on defense and has never been a complete liability on that end. He could provide a good ball handler and shooter off the bench.

He does have experience starting and playing in the postseason. So he could close out games if needed to help the Lakers take some pressure off LeBron handling the ball. With Augustin going on age 33, he could be looking to win now, with quite a bit of money already made in his career.