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Los Angeles Lakers: 3 free-agent power forwards to still pursue

By Jason Reed

DENVER, CO - APRIL 28: Paul Millsap #4 of the Denver Nuggets walks toward the bench against the New Orleans Pelicans after the third quarter at Ball Arena on April 28, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. 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 C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - APRIL 28: Paul Millsap #4 of the Denver Nuggets walks toward the bench against the New Orleans Pelicans after the third quarter at Ball Arena on April 28, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. 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 C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2. Patrick Patterson

Patrick Patterson still has not signed a deal yet in free agency and all signs are pointing to him being a minimum guy. If there was going to be a team to pay him more than that they probably would have come around by now and now Patterson is likely just mulling over his options with contending teams.

He very well could return to the Los Angeles Clippers. The Lakers are in a better spot to contend for the NBA Finals but guys get comfortable and don’t like leaving the team they have been on.

That being said, Patterson would not even have to move if he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers and would have a better chance of winning the title. If it comes down to the Lakers or the Clippers, the choice should be quite obvious.

The 32-year-old veteran is entering the stage of his career where he is going to get minimum offers and be asked to be a shooting option off the bench. At this point in his career that is where his value lies and that is the kind of value that the Lakers are looking for.

He is not a marksman by any means but he is someone who can get hot from beyond the arc and have a couple of runs in a playoff series that can help shift entire games. He is a career 36.9% three-point shooter and has had his moments in recent years.

While Millsap would be better as he is a better player, a player of Patterson’s caliber is more likely as this role as 15 minutes is the absolute max they will get and Millsap might think he still has more left to prove.

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