A new potential free-agent target emerged for the Los Angeles Lakers in Garrett Temple.
At the time of writing this, the only significant addition that the Los Angeles Lakers have made is Dennis Schroder. The team also has waived point guard Quinn Cook and veteran center JaVale McGee has exercised his player option for the 2020-21 season.
There is a lot that is going to unfold in the coming weeks. Rajon Rondo seems all-but gone while the Lakers could bring back Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Avery Bradley, Dwight Howard and DeMarcus Cousins.
The team has not even agreed to an extension with Anthony Davis yet, likely to allow them the most cap flexibility possible by then using his Bird Rights. Between re-signing players, signing free agents and potentially executing another trade, there are a lot of different ways this offseason could go.
One new option emerged on the free-agent market as the Brooklyn Nets declined Garrett Temple’s club option for the 2020-21 season, making him a free agent. One team’s trash is another team’s treasure and Temple would be an excellent addition to the Lakers.
The Los Angeles Lakers need wing defenders after trading Danny Green. That is why the team has been linked to Wesley Matthews (who is also an excellent target). The Lakers should not settle for just one wing defender, though, as depth in that regard is a must if the team is going to make another title run.
Temple does not have the ceiling that Matthews or even Danny Green has but he adds versatility to the team that would be massive in the second unit. Temple can play both the two-guard and the three and has even played some point guard in his career as well.
While this is not a big issue with Schroder now on the roster, Temple could even bring the ball up the court in a staggered capacity off the bench in the moments in which Schroder and LeBron James is off the court.
In that regard, this is essentially knocking out two birds with one stone — giving the Lakers another wing defender as well as that third ballhandler that is useful for depth in the regular season.
More importantly, though, Temple is a capable shooter. He was not fantastic from beyond the arc last season but he has posted a three-point percentage as high as 39.2% (2017-18). On a team like the Lakers, which will benefit from floor spacing because of the size down low, Temple could rediscover that efficient shooting stroke.
His most important asset is his defense and he will be a relatively cheap free-agent option. For a defensive-minded team with an excellent defensive head coach, someone like Temple could thrive.