3 sharpshooters the Lakers can still pursue in free agency
By Jason Reed
2. Nemanja Bjelica
The Los Angeles Lakers need to continue looking for size that can shoot this offseason and quite frankly, the team should be looking for someone who can log minutes at the power forward position. Wenyen Gabriel is the only other option at the four other than Anthony Davis and he is not the best role player.
Gabriel had some promising spurts last season but the Lakers definitely should not be trusting him to be the only backup option at the four. LA needs more size and needs a shooter. Nemanja Bjelica would provide both.
Bjelica is a five in today’s NBA because of his size but he is someone who could play the four next to Anthony Davis, could play the four next to Thomas Bryant/Damian Jones or could even offer a five presence in a smaller lineup. Regardless, he might not be the most dynamic offensive scorer but he plays decent defense and can shoot threes off the ball.
Bjelica is a career 38.4% shooter from beyond the arc and he shot 36.2% from three last season. He was a better shooter last season than his numbers indicate as he started the season red hot and eventually saw that number creep down as the season went along.
The Lakers would not need Bjelica to come in and play 25 minutes a game. However, getting another size option with a jump shot that can play 15 minutes a game would be great for the team.