7 veteran free agents the Los Angeles Lakers should avoid at all costs

By Jason Reed | May 25, 2022

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(Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

1. Paul Millsap

Paul Millsap might not even be in the NBA next season as he is very clearly nearing the end of his NBA career. However, teams like the Lakers who are desperate to add depth in any way they can are the kind of teams that can extend Millsap’s career.

Millsap does not have the luxury of picking from an array of contenders as he likely is not going to have many suitors. In fact, if the Lakers do indeed avoid Millsap at all costs then chances are we won’t see him in the league next season.

It is just that time for Millsap to hang it up. Not only is he five steps slower than he used to be and only played 11 minutes per game last season but from a scheme fit he makes absolutely no sense for LA.

The Lakers already deal with floor-spacing issues and Millsap does nothing but make that issue worse for the Lakers (a common trend among players on this list). If you thought DeAndre Jordan was bad in Los Angeles then Millsap would be even worse.

Don’t let his 43.5% three-point rate from three years ago cloud your judgement. He shot 22.9% from beyond the arc last season and he lacks the athleticism to do more than just be a guy who can stand in the corner and miss almost 80% of his threes.

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