Los Angeles Lakers: 2 young former Lakers to pursue in free agency
By Jason Reed
1. Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, member of the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018-19.
I forced myself to learn how to spell Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk when the Los Angeles Lakers drafted him in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft and three years later the spelling lessons are still paying off. It seemed like I might not have to spell out Mykhailiuk much after he was traded to the Detroit Pistons but here we are with him as a potential free-agent target.
Mykhailiuk was traded to the Pistons during the 2019 NBA trade deadline for Reggie Bullock. The deal for the Lakers was essentially meant to sell a future shooter in Mykhailiuk that was not a big part of the rotation for someone who could actually contribute that season in Bullock.
It did not really mean anything as the Lakers did not make the playoffs and Bullock left the team after half a season. Mykhailiuk probably would have ended up getting dumped that offseason anyways as the team made room for Anthony Davis and Kawhi Leonard, who did not sign with the Lakers.
Mykhailiuk got more of a chance with the Pistons before being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder last season for Hamidou Diallo. Mykhailiuk now finds himself as a free agent and at this point of the game, is worth a minimum contract.
It is interesting that no team has signed the former Kansas Jayhawk. He may not be a great defender and is not a three and D guy but he is someone who can be an off-ball shooting threat.
His three-point percentage last season dipped to 33.4% but the year prior he shot 40.4% on 5.1 attempts per game. In fact, there were only 14 players in the league that season to have a better three-point percentage in as many attempts as Mykhailiuk.
A down year last season presents the perfect chance for the Lakers to buy low and add a young shooter that sticks around for multiple years.