3 sharpshooters the Lakers can still pursue in free agency
By Jason Reed
3. Lou Williams
Lou Williams might not be a sharpshooter by the typical definition of the word. He is not someone who is going to be a deadeye from three off the ball like some other shooting options in the league. However, he is someone that, even at his older age, can still create his own shot.
Williams may not fit the youth movement in LA but adding one more veteran to the mix is not a bad thing. Plus, to continue typical Rob Pelinka behavior, the Lakers would be signing someone who was formerly on the team.
Williams’ career three-point percentage is not the best as he was a high-volume shooter for most of his NBA career. However, his shooting has gotten more efficient as he has leaned into being a veteran role player. Williams is shooting 38.5% from three in 2.3 attempts per game over the last two years.
Retirement is not completely off the table for Williams but it does seem like he wants to play. In fact, the Lakers seem like a perfect fit for the veteran guard. Earlier in the offseason, Williams said the following about his playing future (h/t Joey Linn, SI):
"“If I continue to hoop, it’s going to be because I find a situation that feels good, that feels right, is organic, is somewhere where I can grow still as a player, is somewhere where my influence can be used for younger guys. And you can still use me on the floor or not, I can be there as a conduit for what you got going on, it’s just gotta be beneficial.”"
Not only are there a lot of young guys on this roster that Williams could work with but he would also be in contention for the first championship of his career. If that is not enough reason to collect a $2.4 million paycheck then I don’t know what is.
There are a lot of things that are worse than getting a veteran Williams to play 12 minutes a game and help some of the young guys like Lonnie Walker IV.