Lakers could take flier on uber-athletic guard waived by Clippers

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 09: Jay Scrubb #0 of the LA Clippers (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 09: Jay Scrubb #0 of the LA Clippers (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Lakers will need to look at all sorts of unconventional angles when it comes to filling out the remaining parts of their roster. While Jay Scrubb might not be a household name, adding the former Los Angeles Clippers standout might be one avenue Rob Pelinka has to explore.

Like many of the young players and recent draft picks who were sent to Los Angeles during the Kawhi Leonard era, an influx of star power forced them to push players like Scrubb out of the spotlight. After two seasons, LA had grown tired of waiting for him to develop and waived him.

Coming from the junior college ranks by way of John A. Logan College, Scrubb was such an enticing athlete that he ended up getting drafted purely based on his explosion. There’s still a well of talent worth mining for any team interested.

With off-ball guard still a weakness despite the selection of Max Christie in the NBA Draft, the Lakers would do well to at least check in on Scrubb and see if he’s worth signing. At the very least, he could be an intriguing South Bay Lakers long-term project to mess around with.

Will the Los Angeles Lakers sign Jay Scrubb?

Scrubb took home the Junior College Player of the Year award during his final season with the Volunteers. NBA players like Jae Crowder and Chris Duarte also took that trophy home. Scrubb averaged 21.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game during that award-winning year.

Scrubb has proven to be way too good for the G League thanks to some gaudy offensive numbers, and the Lakers could be a way for him to work his way back into the league. Christie and Austin Reaves aren’t exactly prime Kobe at the 2-guard spot. Maybe the change of scenery will work wonders.

While Scrubb has averaged just 3.8 points per game and shot 39% in the pros, it’s hard to make such a definitive judgment on his quality when he hasn’t even averaged 10 minutes per game. A Wenyen Gabriel-esque rise into relevancy could be in the cards for Scrubb.

Scrubb is nothing more than a lottery ticket right now, given the last two years with the Clippers suggesting that he may not be good enough to crack an NBA rotation. However, the Lakers are thin enough to where he may end up getting the opportunity he has always needed.