1. Joe Ingles
To be fair, Joe Ingles may also belong on the boom or bust free agents article as he too is a risky player to sign. Ingles tore his ACL in early February and was quickly traded by the Utah Jazz because of his contract to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Ingles hits free agency this summer and at 34 years old with an ACL injury, he is definitely getting the minimum. Ingles has insisted that he will continue to play after his ACL injury, which will likely keep him out of some of the 2022-23 season as well.
While there is a risk involved, the ceiling of bringing Ingles in is too exciting to ignore. Ingles was a hugely important role player on the Utah Jazz and finished second in Sixth Man of the Year voting to teammate Jordan Clarkson in 2021.
The Australian was slumping a bit (for him) from beyond the arc this past season but still boasts a career 40.8% three-point shooter. Ingles is so much more than just being an off-ball option, though, as he can provide the similar microwave-scoring presence off the bench that made Malik Monk so fun to watch.
The Lakers may not get Ingles until the turn of the calendar year but for a veteran minimum contract why not bring him in and have him be a pseudo-trade deadline acquisition? As long as the Lakers add decent depth then they can survive three months while Ingles heals.