Los Angeles Lakers: 5 cheap sharpshooters to add in free agency

By Jason Reed | Jul 5, 2021

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 17: JJ Redick #4 of the New Orleans Pelicans takes a shot during the fourth quarter of an NBA game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Smoothie King Center on February 17, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

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

Wayne Ellington

Wayne Ellington has donned the purple and gold before and he has been someone who we have highlighted at the NBA trade deadline in each of the last two seasons. While the Lakers obviously did not make a move for Ellington, the fit was perfect and it definitely would not have hurt the team to make a trade for him.

Now, the Lakers can get him without giving up any assets in return. Unlike the other players on this list, though, you could make the case for Ellington getting slightly more than a minimum contract. Ellington is the perfect value for a bi-annual exception, which the Lakers do not have as they used it on Wesley Matthews last offseason.

If another contender offers Matthews that bi-annual exception then he may go that route. However, if it is between that offer from a lottery team and the minimum offer from a contender like the Lakers then it would be worth it to join LA.

Ellington is not the greatest of defenders but he can be masked out there in Frank Vogel’s defensive scheme. It could limit his playing time in the playoffs but in the regular season it would be a real problem at all.

Ellington shot 42.2% on six attempts from beyond the arc per game. In fact, there are only 11 players in the league who shot better from beyond the arc with as many or more attempts than Ellington.

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