3. Glen Rice
Rice was a three-time All-Star and one of the best players in the league for seven years before arriving in Los Angeles. He had averaged over 22 points each night and shot over 41 percent from 3-point range for four consecutive seasons, which made the 6’8 forward one of the most feared offensive weapons in the league.
Rice was good friends with Shaquille O’Neal, and the Big Diesel had a hand in the Lakers trading for him in 1999. They gave up fan-favorite Eddie Jones and Elden Campbell to get Rice, B.J Armstrong, and J.R. Reid. LA needed shooting to space the floor around Kobe and Shaq, and Rice was one of the best in the league at the time.
The Lakers advanced to the second round of the playoffs in 1999 before winning the championship in 2000. Rice was the starting small forward, and he hit plenty of key shots during that title run. His production decreased playing with Kobe and Shaq, but G Money was a key piece for the Lakers.
Rice’s time in Los Angeles was far from all shine and rainbows. He had a contract dispute with management and struggled to win over fans after being traded for Eddie Jones. Ultimately, Rice only lasted two seasons with the Lakers before being traded to New York.
Glen Rice could have been a key piece of multiple championship teams in Los Angeles if things would have played out differently. The Lakers won three straight from 2000 to 2002, and Rice likely would have been a key floor spacer on all of them had the front office kept him around.