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2 boom or bust free agents the Los Angeles Lakers could sign this summer

By Jason Reed

MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 26: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Miami Heat goes up for a layup against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half in Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round at FTX Arena on April 26, 2022 in Miami, Florida. 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 Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 26: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Miami Heat goes up for a layup against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half in Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round at FTX Arena on April 26, 2022 in Miami, Florida. 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 Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2. T.J. Warren

T.J. Warren lit up the Orlando bubble for the Indiana Pacers and was showing a national audience that he was one of the better rotational forwards in the league. While Warren never had the ceiling that Oladipo had, his value to a contending team would have still been immense and he would have gotten paid a decent amount.

The problem is that after shining in the Orlando bubble in 2020 Warren has been unable to stay healthy. It sounds crazy, but Warren has only played four games since the Orlando bubble. He missed all of the 2021-22 season.

That obviously tanked his value and Warren is likely going to be a one-year minimum signing this offseason. The hope for him and his agent is that he can sign a one-year deal with a big-market team like the Lakers, prove that he is still valuable, and net a multi-year contract next offseason.

I get that there are concerns about bringing in someone who has only played four games over the last two seasons. Heck, the guys over at the Lakers Legacy Podcast (the official Lakers podcast of the FanSided Network) don’t seem to think it is a very good idea.

But the reality is that the Lakers need to make the moves that give them a better chance of winning the title. Using a roster spot or Taxpayer MLE on someone who does not raise the ceiling of the team is pointless. It would be much better to get someone who can actually raise the ceiling, like Warren or Oladipo, and live with the results regardless of what they might be.

Just imagine if the Lakers were able to actually get Oladipo and Warren for the minimum and brought back Monk on the MLE. If Warren and Oladipo could reach their potential (at this point in their career) then the Lakers would be getting two starting-caliber guys to add to the rotation.

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They are not going to get that any other way.

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