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Los Angeles Lakers: 3 young free agents LA could sign next

By Jason Reed

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Garrison Mathews #24 of the Washington Wizards warms up prior to the game against the Indiana Pacers at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2021 in Washington, DC. 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 Will Newton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Garrison Mathews #24 of the Washington Wizards warms up prior to the game against the Indiana Pacers at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2021 in Washington, DC. 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 Will Newton/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2. T.J. Leaf

Do you ever have those non-lottery pick NBA players that come into the league, are not even on your favorite team, yet you are convinced that they are going to be a quality rotation player? T.J. Leaf is the perfect example of that for me and I still am not convinced that he can’t be a rotation player in the league.

Perhaps it is because he came out of UCLA at the same time as Lonzo Ball, who Laker fans were watching a lot of prior to the 2017 NBA Draft because he was likely going to LA. Regardless, Leaf seemingly has all the makings of being a stretch four in this league and just has not gotten the chance.

Leaf has never averaged more than nine minutes per game in a season and last season only played in seven games. His stock is certainly at an all-time low, but he is a recent lottery pick with potential that is still young.

Leaf is only 24 years old and on the right team with the right coaching, he can turn into the stretch four shooting option that he projected to be when he came into the league. We know the Lakers not only have an eye for late draft talent but have been fantastic in developing them. Perhaps Leaf could be another success story.

The Lakers have smaller options to play the four when Anthony Davis is resting or at the five but getting the six-ten Leaf and letting him test the waters in the regular season wouldn’t be a bad call. The Lakers will have a lot of blowout wins under their belt so Leaf should get a decent amount of playing time until he earns the trust of the coaching staff to see if he really can contribute.

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