Grading every Lakers signing during NBA free agency
By Jason Reed
Lakers sign Cam Reddish: A-
Cam Reddish has been connected to the Los Angeles Lakers for years and the team finally made good on those rumors by signing him to a minimum contract this summer. While Reddish undoubtedly has flaws and has been underwhelming thus far in his career, there are reasons to be hopeful.
There are very few teams that get as much out of role players as the Lakers and fans can trust in the player development process, led by Phil Handy, to get more value out of Reddish than any other team has thus far.
It worked with Malik Monk and it very well could work with Reddish, who might end up playing a very important role for this team as a depth wing.
Lakers sign Jaxson Hayes: B+
Might as well bunch these two signings together as they are practically the same. Just like with Reddish, the Lakers are taking a bet on a young lottery player who has been slightly disappointing but also hasn’t fully tapped into his potential.
Los Angeles probably should add another veteran big just as insurance for Jaxson Hayes (and Anthony Davis, who is injury prone) but it is still smart to take a flier on someone who was recently taken with the eighth overall pick.
Best of all, by signing Hayes, Reddish and Hachimura, the Lakers now have the eighth, ninth and 10th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, making the 2019 AD trade even more lopsided for LA.