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

By Jason Reed | May 25, 2022

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 17: LaMarcus Aldridge #21 of the Brooklyn Nets reacts against the Washington Wizards during the first half at Barclays Center on February 17, 2022 in New York City. 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 Adam Hunger/Getty Images) /

7 of 8

(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

6. Austin Rivers

The first guard on this list is Austin Rivers, who may seem like he falls in the unrealistic bin of potential free agent targets but I would not put it past the Lakers to sign him. After all, the team is still holding out hope that Doc Rivers will be the head coach next season.

If the Lakers are so desperate to bring in a bad head coach in Rivers then it would not be surprising if the team was interested in bringing in his son as a role player. After all, Rivers has had some notable heat-check moments in recent years, including some solid playoff stretches in the 2021 NBA Playoffs.

That does not change the fact that Rivers is not a great NBA basketball player and that him playing a notable role in the rotation would be a mistake for the Lakers. Rivers is limited offensively and is not a good enough three-point shooter to stick next to LeBron. Defensively, Rivers is below average and is someone who can be hunted, especially in a playoff series.

If the Lakers were to sign Rivers they would be convincing themselves that he is a microwave scorer who could give the team a similar presence that Malik Monk gave them. That is far from what Rivers would provide.

Home/Lakers Free Agency