5 free agents the Lakers definitely must sign after 2023 NBA Draft
By Jason Reed
Jalen McDaniels
Another Philadelphia 76ers free agent makes the list and would be an even younger target for the Lakers to sign in free agency. Los Angeles has learned its lesson from bringing in too many older free agents, which makes Jalen McDaniels more enticing.
The 76ers decided to essentially swap out Matisse Thybulle for McDaniels at the deadline last season. Philly probably will regret this in the long-term with McDaniels now being a free agent but you could see the logic in adding him.
McDaniels’ counting stats were not amazing with the 76ers but he was exactly what the team needed him to be: efficient. He shot 40% from three while providing serviceable (albeit not Thybulle levels) of defense.
Essentially, the 76ers sacrificed the higher defensive ceiling of Thybulle for someone who could do more offensively. Unfortunately, McDaniels did not play well at all in the NBA Playoffs, which might actually help the Lakers.
Jalen McDaniels’ poor postseason helps his case as a Lakers free-agent target
McDaniels has legitimate potential to be a solid two-way wing player for a playoff team. He is not someone who will likely start in the playoffs but Los Angeles definitely could get 15-18 minutes off the bench where he plays above-average defense and is a shooting threat on the other side.
Teams are going to be more sour on this version of McDaniels, though, after his struggles in the postseason. This could open the door for the Lakers to swoop in and sign McDaniels for much cheaper than he would have signed for initially.