3 free agents who could be another Malik Monk for the Lakers

By Jason Reed | May 20, 2022

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 23: Malik Monk #11 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts in the second half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on November 23, 2021 in New York City. The New York Knicks defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 106-100. 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 Elsa/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

1. Otto Porter

Otto Porter is the most like Malik Monk of any player on this list. At his best, Porter can be a microwave scorer off the bench as a great off-ball three-point option that actually plays good enough defense. That is something that Monk cannot even do.

Porter is someone who I was personally pounding the table for last offseason but the team instead signed Kent Bazemore to essentially have the role that Porter would have had. Porter then went to the team Bazemore was leaving, the Golden State Warriors, and proved his value as a role player.

Porter averaged 22.2 minutes per game with the Warriors, scoring 8.2 points on 37% three-point shooting. That 37% mark is probably Porter’s floor as a three-point shooter as he is a career 39.8% shooter.

Defensively, Porter put together a 2.1 Defensive Box Plus/Minus, which was one of the best marks in the entire league. That number is inflated a tad by the Warriors’ team defense but he is still more than capable of being a three and D wing for the Lakers.

He is not going to D up an elite player like Kawhi Leonard would, but he can more than hold his own and provide something the Lakers have really lost over the last year: perimeter defense.

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