5 free agents the Lakers should sign after day 1 free agency frenzy
By Jason Reed
3. Jalen Smith
The M-O for the Los Angeles Lakers has obviously been to bring in young talent and if the front office keeps operating with that goal then Jalen Smith is a candidate to be signed. Smith’s NBA career has not gotten off on the right foot and he presents a unique opportunity, like Monk did, to sign a recent lottery pick at the minimum.
Smith was taken with the 10th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns and never got his fair shake. He hardly played and before his second season in the league, the Suns decided to do the rare thing and not pick up his option. Classic Robert Sarver being cheap.
The Suns eventually traded him to the Pacers, where he showed some promise, but not enough to elevate him over being a minimum option. This presents a great chance for the Lakers to give Smith a home where he can blossom as well as put the Lakers’ player development skills to the test.
The Lakers still need a backup four and that is exactly what the six-foot-ten Smith could provide. At his best, Smith is someone who can space the floor and could offer the Lakers an off-ball shooter that could play next to a traditional five or Anthony Davis.
Smith started shooting the basketball better in Indiana as he shot 37.3% from three on 3.8 attempts per game. Those are no numbers to scoff at for a big guy. It may have only been 22 games, but the promise he showed in those games should have the Lakers licking their chops.
Most contenders aren’t looking to use an MLE or bi-annual extension on a young player and the rebuilding teams aren’t going to fork over a lot of cash for Smith, either. That puts the Lakers in a unique spot to potentially strike it rich with Green.