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It would be a disaster if the Lakers sign this newly-waived player

By Jason Reed

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 06: Head coach Darvin Ham (L) and vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka of the Los Angeles Lakers talk before a preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at T-Mobile Arena on October 06, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Timberwolves defeated the Lakers 114-99. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 06: Head coach Darvin Ham (L) and vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka of the Los Angeles Lakers talk before a preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at T-Mobile Arena on October 06, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Timberwolves defeated the Lakers 114-99. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers are over halfway through the preseason and there are still some aspects of the roster that need to be figured out. Most notably, the Lakers have one free roster spot to hand out for the 2022-23 season with some potential candidates.

Before the preseason began, there was a trade between the Rockets and Thunder that was centered around the cap that was inevitably going to lead to players getting waived. At the time, this seemed like a great opportunity for the Lakers to add depth to the roster.

However, now that we have gotten a taste of this team it is clear that LA might not need the external help that would have come via that trade. That is now the case with the recently waived Maurice Harkless, who once made sense for the Lakers as a potential target.

It is clear that someone else deserves the roster spot much more than Harkless does, who has done nothing for this team.

The Lakers would be silly to sign Maurice Harkless over Matt Ryan.

There are some fans that have pondered the possibility of signing Maurice Harkless now that he has been released but that would be a very tough thing for the team to sell to this locker room. If the Lakers didn’t have an obvious candidate that is playing out of his mind it would be one thing.

Matt Ryan has been a fantastic revelation this preseason, showcasing that his gaudy three-point numbers from the G League last season were not a fluke. For a team that needs wings and needs three-point shooting, Ryan is literally a dream find for LA.

Harkless would provide two-way depth at the wing position as a good enough off-ball shooter and an average or better defender. But he does not have the upside that Ryan does offensively and even if Ryan is slightly worse defensively, his offense will make up for it.

LeBron James has already made it clear that he wants the Lakers to sign Matt Ryan so it might just be a formality at this point. The team will wait until the preseason is over for the sake of roster competition, but all signs are pointing to Ryan getting the spot.

But if the Lakers somehow shock us with someone like Harkless then fans have every reason to be upset. Matt Ryan has more than earned a roster spot.

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