Los Angeles Lakers: 4 potential buyout targets to avoid at all costs

By Jason Reed | Feb 16, 2022

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 05: D.J. Augustin #14 of the Houston Rockets dribbles the ball during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Toyota Center on December 5, 2021 in Houston, Texas. 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 Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

3. Rodney Hood

There is a reason why a contending team in the Milwaukee Bucks was so willing to part ways with Rodney Hood and not think twice. There is a reason why Hood had such a small role on the Bucks in a regular season that has tested every single team’s depth. There is a reason why the Clippers should buy him out to save some money even if they could use the depth.

Because it not that good of an NBA player anymore, simply put. The Los Angeles Lakers are trying to add players that can raise the floor of the team; not players who are worse than the bad role players that the team already has on the roster.

If the Lakers want to play a prototypical three and D wing who can no longer shoot or play good defense then they should just start giving Kent Bazemore more minutes.

Hood would be exactly the same level of player as Bazemore, who has played his way out of the rotation in Los Angeles after being horrible at the beginning of the year with a bigger role. Hood is a below-average defensive player at this point in his career and cannot shoot from three.

His career year in 2019-20 was obviously an aberration as over the last two seasons he is shooting a combined 30.1% from three.

Of the 330 players to play at least 500 minutes this season, Hood ranks 308th in BPM at -3.6. But hey, at least it is better than Thompson and Augustin, right?

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