The Los Angeles Lakers made several moves at the NBA trade deadline that made the team younger and more talented. That being said, there is still one massive hole that the team can address and that is the small forward position.
Los Angeles does not have a true small forward on the roster, instead having a collection of guards and power forward that have to play the three for LA. Getting a true small forward, especially one that can shoot and defend, would be absolutely incredible for the Lakers.
Luckily, the team may now have the perfect option thanks to a gaffe from the San Antonio Spurs and it comes via a familiar face. After making the mistake of trading him to the Utah Jazz in the Patrick Beverley deal, the Lakers can officially bring back Stanley Johnson (if they so please).
The San Antonio Spurs are releasing forward Stanley Johnson, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Johnson had a strong stint for the Spurs this season, shooting 45 percent from 3-point range, and will now look to join a postseason contender.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 12, 2023
Lakers must sign Stanley Johnson after being released by Spurs (Updated with new information)
*UPDATE* NBA insider Marc Stein confirmed that the Lakers cannot reacquire Stanley Johnson due to a rule in the CBA. You can read more about the rule here.
Confirmed via league sources: The Lakers are unable to claim Stanley Johnson off waivers today or sign him if Johnson clears waivers. He is ineligible to re-sign with the Lakers for one year from last Aug. 24 as a result of being waived by Utah after the Lakers dealt him there.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 14, 2023
The Los Angeles Lakers have one open roster spot to use to sign a player on the buyout market and Stanley Johnson is a strong candidate to fill that roster spot. We know that Rob Pelinka loves bringing back former Lakers (D’Angelo Russell being the latest example) and Johnson would continue that trend.
Johnson was a strong role player for Los Angeles last season, which made his inclusion in the Beverley trade so surprising. While he was not the most consistent three-point shooter, he was arguably the best wing defender the team had on the roster.
The former eighth-overall pick worked on his three-point shot with a well-respected shooting coach in the offseason and it has instantly paid off this season. Even if he is only taking 1.3 attempts per game, a 45% three-point rate is nothing to scoff at.
Johnson is the perfect wing to bring back to LA to play 15-20 minutes a night and who knows, if he continues to play at the level he is playing at for the Spurs then perhaps he could earn a bigger role in the rotation. If all goes well, Johnson is exactly the kind of role player a contending team should want in the rotation.
San Antonio’s decision-making with Johnson is a bit strange. They signed him only to release him after the trade deadline even though he is doing what the team is asking him to do. Perhaps they were simply trying to trade him for a second-round pick and couldn’t get it done, but it is strange to see a tanking team just give up on a young player.
Johnson’s path back to the Lakers would be an interesting one. He was waived by the Jazz before the season, briefly had a stint in the G League and then was brought in by the Spurs. Since there was a stop along the way between the Jazz and Lakers, Johnson can legally return to LA as a free agent.
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And it should be the move that is made. Los Angeles has made an effort to get younger and they already made the mistake of giving away the 26-year-old once.