Lakers: Grading the additions of Wenyen Gabriel and D.J. Augustin
Wenyen Gabriel grade: A-
One thing this Lakers team sorely lacked this season was consistent effort and energy on defense and on the glass. That is why Gabriel glaringly stood out immediately when he was on the court because his high motor is always running like a souped-up muscle car.
When this roster was initially constructed it was definitely thin on wing players and that depth became even weaker when Trevor Ariza showed up as a shell of himself this season. Similar to when Stanley Johnson was signed earlier in the season, Gabriel’s youthful athleticism was a breath of fresh air on one of the oldest rosters in the league.
It is not really in Gabriel’s skillset to stretch the floor, so he will never be a 3 and D wing that has become very valuable in the modern game. He can play defense though, which is half of that equation.
His length combined with above-average athletic ability is what allows him to guard bigger players and be a pest on the boards. At 6’9″ with a 7’1″ wingspan, he showed versatility by even playing some center for the Lakers in some smaller lineups.
His A grade is based on his valuable two-way contract he is currently playing on. Just like Augustin, the expectations for him were low when he was initially signed, and he has exceeded them by leaps and bounds.
Should the Lakers bring him back?
Gabriel should definitely be considered to make the roster next season, especially if he is brought back on a two-way deal again. He is a bargain at that price and could be one of the more productive players on a two-way deal in the league.
He is still only 24 and the Lakers need to hold on to any young assets they can at this point because they hardly have any. Gabriel, Reaves, Horton-Tucker, and Malik Monk are the only players under 24 currently on the roster and it is likely that Monk will in free agency.
Wenyen may have found a home with the Lakers, but there is still room for improvement in his game. If he wants a bigger role and a full-time contract, he should work on his offensive arsenal in the offseason.
He has shot an abysmal five for 21 from beyond the arc and lacks the ball-handling it takes to get the basket consistently, so it is not surprising he only averaged 5.7 points per game. However, his average of 14.4 points per 36 minutes suggests that if his role was increased, he would definitely produce at an acceptable rate on offense as well.
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It would not be surprising at all to see Gabriel playing for the Lakers next season.