3. Gorgui Dieng
The list of remaining bigs on the free-agent market that can also space the floor is pretty bleak. Gorgui Dieng is not someone who a fanbase is going to get overly excited about as he is not really that much of a game-changer.
Wood is far more talented than Dieng is at this point in time, that goes without saying. However, as mentioned, Wood comes with additional baggage and the Lakers may simply be looking for depth in the regular season.
At some point, the difference in talent (especially for a depth role) does not make up for the drawbacks of a potential locker room distraction. For that reason, it would not be insane to see the Lakers take a flier on Dieng instead of Wood.
Gorgui Dieng could be a perfect short-term solution for the Lakers
Adding to Dieng’s value is the fact that his free-agent value is not very high. Let us explain.
Dieng does not have a robust market of teams knocking at his door to sign him. For that reason, more so than the other players on this list, the Lakers have a chance to sign him to a non-guaranteed deal, which could be the best of both worlds.
The team would be getting someone who can give them depth now and simply eat some minutes early in the season. Then, when a better option becomes available, the Lakers could get off Dieng’s deal without having to pay his full salary in order to bring in someone else.
Sometimes in the NBA short-term commitments are a good thing and if the Lakers are really lucky then Dieng could win the team a game with a clutch three-point shot like Matt Ryan did before getting waived last year.