Los Angeles Lakers: Ranking each player of the newly constructed roster

By Jason Reed | Nov 30, 2020

Nov 22, 2019; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder (17) drives to the basket around Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) during the second half at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Los Angeles won 130-127. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports /

5 of 12

(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

8. Wesley Matthews

This was a fantastic signing by the Los Angeles Lakers. In terms of pure value, this might be the best signing of the offseason. The Lakers are going to get a lot out of Wesley Matthews this season and it only cost them $3.6 million to bring him in.

Matthews perfectly fills the void that was left behind by Danny Green after he was traded alongside the 28th overall pick. While Green has a higher ceiling than Matthews, Matthews can legitimately offer more to the Lakers this upcoming season than Green did last season.

Green was a shaky three-point shooter last year that was really bad in the Orlando Bubble. He had his night when he was fantastic but he also had his nights where he couldn’t throw water into the ocean.

Matthews is not an elite shooter, but he did shoot the three-ball just as well as Green last season. Green shot 36.7% from beyond the arc while Matthews shot 36.4%.

Matthews is just as good of a defender as Green is as well. Danny Green posted a 1.13 defensive box impact plus-minus (PIPM) last season while Matthews posted a 2.37 defensive PIPM, via Basketball Index.

Home/Lakers News