Los Angeles Lakers: 5 players who likely just played their last game in LA

By Jason Reed | Jun 4, 2021

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 03: Markieff Morris #88, Wesley Matthews #9 and Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers react in a 113-100 Phoenix Suns win during game six of the Western Conference first round series at Staples Center on June 03, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. /

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(Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

4. Wesley Matthews

Wesley Matthews signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers prior to the 2021 season and it seemed to be an absolute steal for the purple and gold. The Lakers flipped one year of Danny Green for one year of Dennis Schroder and then signed Matthews to essentially replace Green.

Green at his best was always viewed as the better player but with how he played with the Lakers, and how Matthews played the year prior, it felt like a lateral move. The Lakers were not improving from Green, but replacing him while significantly improving at point guard.

You could make the case for Matthews to sign another veteran minimum deal and out of every player on this list, I would give him the best chance to return. However, the Lakers’ usage of him late in the season and how poorly he played offensively leads me to believe that the Lakers will look elsewhere.

If JJ Redick is willing to take a veteran’s minimum he could be a good sharpshooting option to add. Wayne Ellington might cost slightly more than the veteran’s minimum but he would still provide a good shooting presence, albeit without the same defensive presence.

There is also the draft and the potential for a trade to occur.

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