Lakers signing that no longer makes any sense (especially with Schroder)
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Lakers have had to make a lot of moves this offseason after having the most disappointing season in franchise history. With so much money tied up to the big three of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook, there was naturally going to be a lot of roster turnover.
There could still be more moves before the 2022-23 season begins as a Russell Westbrook trade potentially looms after the Lakers signed Dennis Schroder. As it stands right now, though, the Lakers are dealing with a very unbalanced roster that is way too guard-heavy.
After everything the team has done this offseason, there is one decision by Rob Pelinka’s front office that has aged worse and worse. With how the roster in constructed, especially with the addition of Schroder, this one signing is worth questioning.
The Lakers signing Lonnie Walker IV with the Taxpayer MLE makes no sense.
This was one of the first signings that the Los Angeles Lakers made this offseason and two months later it is hard to justify with the roster construction that the team has had since. Lonnie Walker IV, a two-guard, is essentially out of the rotation now with Schroder, Beverley, Westbrook and Nunn all getting minutes in front of him.
Walker will obviously still play but the Lakers probably signed someone with the one contract they could actually give out to play 15 minutes a game. How is that smart managing? How is that good roster construction?
This team needs wings and some optimistic fans will say that Walker is a good wing option for the Lakers because of his wingspan. Unless he is a completely different player next season, these same fans will be very upset when they see how Walker actually fairs as a “wing”.
There were two things the Lakers could have done instead. First, they could have taken a risk on someone like Joe Ingles, who signed the same contract with the Milwaukee Bucks this offseason.
Or, the Lakers could have done the savvy thing of splitting up their MLE money into two different signings. Los Angeles could have afforded to bring in both Kevin Knox and Mike Muscala for the same price as just Walker.
Regardless of what the other options were, it is still really hard to justify the Walker signing with everything that has happened since. Hindsight is 20/20 but even at the time, Walker did not seem to be that dynamic of a signing for LA.