Los Angeles Lakers: 3 free-agent guards to sign before Isaiah Thomas

3. Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk

This might sound absurd, but I would much rather the Los Angeles Lakers sign Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk over Isaiah Thomas. The potential benefits of going with Mykhailiuk over Thomas are easy to point out and like Redick, he fits the team more.

Mykhailiuk is a solid shooter and while Thomas has the capacity to shoot the three as well, it is less of a guarantee that he would even be able to be efficient with the Lakers. Even after a bad season, I like Mykhailiuk’s chances much better.

He did only shoot 33.4% from beyond the arc last season but he was asked to do a lot more creating for himself on that bad Oklahoma City Thunder team that was actively trying to lose as many games as possible.

As a spot-up shooter that is only taking 3-4 threes per game, he can definitely go back to being the 40% shooter that he was on the Detroit Pistons the year prior. To Thomas’ credit, he did shoot 41.3% in his last somewhat full season.

The other intriguing part about going with Mykhailiuk over Thomas is the age factor. Thomas would just add to the list of veterans trying to chase that first championship with the Lakers. Mykhailiuk, meanwhile, could be someone that the Lakers weave into their near-future plans as a bench scorer.

He won’t increase his worth all that much in a small bench role and they could re-sign him to a minimum deal next offseason as well. By the time that second contract is over, there will be far more salary-cap space and if they like him enough they can keep him around on a small deal.

They obviously liked him enough to draft him and see some potential in him. I would not say he is my top option by any means but he is a better option than Isaiah Thomas.