Los Angeles Lakers: 3 free-agent point guards to avoid at all costs

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 23: Cameron Payne #15 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against Dennis Schroder #17 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of Game One of the Western Conference first-round playoff series at Phoenix Suns Arena on May 23, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Lakers 99-90. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 23: Cameron Payne #15 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against Dennis Schroder #17 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of Game One of the Western Conference first-round playoff series at Phoenix Suns Arena on May 23, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Lakers 99-90. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers

2. Goran Dragic

Goran Dragic’s free-agent value this offseason is hard to gauge but there is one thing that we know for certain: unless the Miami Heat can swing him in a trade he will be a free agent this offseason.

Miami has a club option for his contract next season and he absolutely is not worth the value of the contract. Dragic would make $19.4 million next season if the Heat accept his option, which is simply way too much for the veteran point guard.

Dragic was someone who I wanted to see the Los Angeles Lakers pursue last offseason and it is probably a good thing that they didn’t. Dragic was a huge part of Miami’s success and run to the championship in 2020 but he got old really fast. His production at every level dipped in 2021 and him staying on the court is now a concern as well.

Dragic tore his Plantar Fascia in the NBA Finals and anyone that has had plantar fasciitis knows how sensitive that area can be. That injury absolutely impacted how he looked this season and with his age, and that specific injury, I am not sure it will get better anytime soon.

He still played well enough to get more than a minimum contract, which would make it hard for the Lakers to swing anyway. Regardless, the regression is going to happen very quickly with Dragic and anything more than a veteran minimum deal is way too much.