3 standout 2022 signings that should’ve been Lakers

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 05: Yuta Watanabe #18 of the Brooklyn Nets celebrates after defeating the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on November 05, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 05: Yuta Watanabe #18 of the Brooklyn Nets celebrates after defeating the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on November 05, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

3. Damion Lee

If there is one thing that the Los Angeles Lakers should have been doing in the offseason is bringing in players who were attached to the Golden State Warriors. They did that with Toscano-Anderson to be fair but they should have doubled down with Damion Lee.

Lee certainly would have filled a need for a team that is obviously lacking size and needs wings. The six-five shooting guard would have added a dynamic that the Lakers simply don’t have, especially considering he has been lights out from beyond the arc.

To be fair, Lee has been up and down in his NBA career when it comes to shooting threes but he has shown in previous seasons that a high ceiling is there. Lee has blown past that ceiling this season as he is shooting 46.7% from three in three attempts per game.

And even if the shooting did not fully come around that much (he will regress towards 38-40%), Lee still would have brought his above-average defense. Lee is by no means an elite defensive player but he certainly is talented and would give the team a wing defender that it simply does not have.

After a strong start, the Lakers’ defense is starting to show its true colors as it becomes obvious that they cannot play with 150% effort every night, especially when they are undersized. Getting a decent shooter with some size would have helped, but what do I know?