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Knicks’ latest roster crunch gives Lakers a perfect hidden gem to sign

By Jason Reed

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 09: Vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka of the Los Angeles Lakers attends a 2023 NBA Summer League game between the Lakers and the Charlotte Hornets at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 09, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 09: Vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka of the Los Angeles Lakers attends a 2023 NBA Summer League game between the Lakers and the Charlotte Hornets at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 09, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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If there is one team in the NBA that can get the most out of young players with potential it is the Los Angeles Lakers. Los Angeles has done it time and time again, getting more out of young players than other teams could throughout the NBA.

For that reason, fans are invested in the South Bay Lakers as well as the players on two-way contracts more than fans of other teams are. There are legitimate hidden gems that could sprout up for the Lakers at any time. Just look at Austin Reaves.

Sometimes those hidden gems come from other teams as well. One team’s trash could be the Lakers’ treasure and the perfect example of that is now on the market. The New York Knicks began their roster crunch ahead of the 2023-24 season and in the process, gifted the Lakers the perfect hidden gem to take a chance on.

Isaiah Roby could be the perfect hidden gem for the Los Angeles Lakers

Isaiah Roby is now officially on the market and the Lakers are a team that makes a lot of sense for the young forward. Los Angeles is a team that is always looking to add shooting and Roby could certainly provide that in the purple and gold.

Roby did have a poor shooting performance for the San Antonio Spurs last season but he played in an offense with bad spacing that did not favor him. The year prior, Roby shot 44.4% for the Oklahoma City Thunder in a substantial sample size.

Roby is only 25 years old and it is safe to say that there is untapped potential there. He is never going to turn into an all-star but his player mold is very promising. In addition to being able to shoot the rock, Roby can defend at an above-average level and has the length to guard any forward or even smaller bigs.

It may be tough for Roby to get any minutes in the current crowded Lakers rotation. But in the case that someone like Jarred Vanderbilt got hurt or if Jaxson Hayes disappoints then Roby would be a great backup plan. He doesn’t have to play a huge role right away as long as LA can get its hands on him to develop him.

There are three different ways that the Lakers could bring Roby in. First, the team could try signing him to the active roster on a non-guaranteed deal. This would give the Lakers the chance to work on his game without committing to an entire season in the case that there is a buyout target that makes sense.

The Lakers could also try to sign him to a two-way deal, which would happen in one of two ways. First, the team could release Alex Fudge from his two-way deal to make room for Roby. Fudge is younger but Roby has a higher ceiling.

The alternative would be promoting someone (likely D’Moi Hodge) to a standard NBA contract to open up a two-way spot for Roby.

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