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Former Lakers who are surprisingly still free agents

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 18: Wenyen Gabriel #35 of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up before the game at Crypto.com Arena on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 18: Wenyen Gabriel #35 of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up before the game at Crypto.com Arena on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers have had one of the best offseasons in the NBA fueled by savvy signings during NBA free agency. Not only was the team able to improve last season’s core but it was able to do it at a great cost.

Several members of last year’s team were brought back with the team making additions to the bench that have created a deeper roster. If the stars can stay healthy, the Lakers could be due for a 50-win season.

Not every member of last year’s team was offered to come back. Some were signed and some are still surprisingly looking for a job. It isn’t just players from last season’s team, either, as several former Lakers are still surprisingly unsigned.

3 former Lakers who are surprisingly still free agents:

Wenyen Gabriel 

Wenyen Gabriel was a solid back-end rotation contributor for the Lakers over the last two years and while his skill set does not totally match with today’s NBA, it is surprising that a team hasn’t at least signed him.

Gabriel brings a type of energy off the bench that can be infectious and can really help a team get through the dog days of the winter in the regular season. He isn’t someone who you want playing 20 minutes per game, but as a change-of-pace option off the bench to play bully ball down low, he still has value.

Gabriel was struggling to find a team before the Lakers took a chance on him and he is experiencing the same issue now. With a pretty bad big-man market right now, you would think that Gabriel would be the next to sign, even if it’s just for training camp and the preseason.

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