The speculation can now end. The Los Angeles Lakers filled the final roster spot on the team on Tuesday with a veteran three and D wing player.
Shams Charania of The Athletic first reported that the Lakers signed former Houston Rocket Ben McLemore for the rest of the season. McLemore gives the Lakers the three and D presence that they were reportedly looking for in the final roster spot.
This was great timing by the Lakers and us here at Lake Show Life. This morning, I published a piece breaking down why McLemore was the perfect plan B target for the Lakers. Plan A, in my optimistic mind, was the team landing Otto Porter Jr.
However, Porter is yet to be bought out by the Orlando Magic, so it makes sense for the Lakers to act fast and make sure they at least get to add someone that can play on the playoff roster.
So what are the Los Angeles Lakers getting with Ben McLemore?
The team is getting a three and D wing that is historically a great three-point shooter but has regressed a tad this season. As is the case with every buyout signing, it is unclear what version of McLemore will show up in LA.
Will he get red-hot and prove to be one of the best buyout signings of the season? Or will he simply be the ninth man in the rotation and not make a tangible difference once the playoffs roll around?
With McLemore now officially a Laker, we thought it would be best to break down his potential ceiling with the Lakers as well as his potential floor, comparing him to recent Lakers in the process.