The Los Angeles Lakers still don’t have a 100% finalized roster, as there is always time for Rob Pelinka to peruse the free agent market for more backup guards that can shoot. A reunion with Svi Mykhailiuk could be in the cards after an uneven finish to the 2021-22 season.
Fresh off some respectable tenures with Detroit and Oklahoma City, Mykhailiuk signed with the Toronto Raptors in order to bring shooting and rim-running to a team in need of both those attributes. Just a few months into the season, that plan went off the rails.
The Raptors waived Mykhailiuk after a disappointing season in which he lost his rotation spot. He’ll need to go somewhere that can afford to give him a steady chunk of minutes that will help him get back on track. The Lakers might be the best place for someone with his skills to rediscover what made him so deadly in the first place.
LA’s roster is still very thin in the backcourt, as the enormity of Russell Westbrook’s contract made it hard for them to compete for some of the elite free agents on the market. The Ukrainian veteran, who is currently fresh off a solid showing for his national team, could be a nice low-cost dice roll.
The Toronto Raptors are waiving forward Svi Mykhailiuk, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Mykhailiuk, who's currently playing for Ukraine's national team at FIBA EuroBasket, is seeking a fresh start elsewhere.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 29, 2022
Will the Lakers bring back Svi Mykhailiuk?
Mykhailiuk made just 39% of his shots and 30% of his 3-pointers last season. That 3-point percentage shrunk to just 23% when the calendar flipped to January. That production made it impossible for Toronto to retain him despite the fact he had a guaranteed contract.
In his Lakers stint, Mykhailiuk averaged 3.3 points per game before being dealt to the Pistons. His best two seasons came immediately after that excursion, as he averaged 8.7 points per game with solid efficiency percentages during a two-season stint with Detroit and Oklahoma City.
As has been shown in Toronto, Mykhailiuk is a pesky perimeter defender that can attack the rim with some degree of skill. Having said that, his 3-point shooting ability is what will guarantee him his next paycheck. A fresh start might be all that he needs to become a solid role player in LA.
The Toronto Raptors have waived Svi Mykhailiuk pic.twitter.com/Xc6kemgUrY
— Yahoo Sports Canada (@YahooCASports) August 29, 2022
Mykhailiuk’s stock is as low as it has ever been in the NBA, meaning that the Lakers will have even less competition to fight off in order to secure his services. If Ham believes in what his scheme can do for bounce-back candidates like Lonnie Walker and Mykhailiuk, the Ukrainian wing could make Toronto regretful they gave up on him.
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