3 free agents Lakers definitely should have signed from day 1 frenzy

By Jason Reed | Jul 1, 2023

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - APRIL 05: Yuta Watanabe #18 of the Brooklyn Nets looks on and smiles against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on April 05, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Nic Antaya/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) – Jevon Carter Lakers /

Lakers should have signed Jevon Carter

Finally, someone who does not play for the Phoenix Suns. If we really wanted to, we could have added another Suns player to this list as Damion Lee would have been a great fit in Los Angeles. But as an internal free agent, Lee probably knew all along that he was going to return to Phoenix next season.

Jevon Carter would have been a far better guard to target than Gabe Vincent. Vincent had his moment in the NBA Playoffs that undoubtedly raised his free-agent value but in reality, he is nowhere near as consistent as he needs to be in two key areas: three-point shooting and defense.

Carter is someone who is more consistent, and quite frankly, better in both areas. While a bit on the smaller side, Carter is an above-average perimeter defender that posted a 1.2 Defensive Box Plus/Minus. Offensively, he is exactly the kind of off-ball three-point shooter LA could use.

The 27-year-old is a career 40.5% three-point shooter who shot 42.5% last season. In 22.3 minutes per game, Carter averaged 8.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. That is all the Lakers would have needed out of him.

Instead, the team spent more on Vincent. Meanwhile, Carter signed a three-year, $20 million contract with the Bulls.

Next. 22 players the Lakers gave up on too early. dark

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