We're only eight games into the Los Angeles Lakers' regular season, which is less than 10 percent of the campaign. Even so, 384 minutes of basketball is a decent sample size if you're trying to evaluate only a handful of players. And that's exactly what I'd like to do here.
In looking at the Lakers' new acquisitions from the offseason, I've identified three guys who already look like definite keepers moving forward in the Luka Doncic Era. I've also identified two players who already look like mistake signings by GM Rob Pelinka (and thus might turn into trade chips soon).
Alright, let's get into it.
3 Lakers offseason acquisitions who look like keepers
Sandro Mamukelashvili
Mamu! I've loved this guy in a Lakers uniform so far, which is why I called for head coach JJ Redick to give Mamu more minutes early on. He's averaging 24.0 minutes per game so far this year, and I think that number should be closer to 27 or 28.
Simply put, Mamu is an excellent Luka Doncic role player. First off, he can shoot the heck out of the ball from three and isn't afraid to launch. Beyond the shooting stroke, though, there are so many other secondary things that Mamukelashvili brings to the table, whether you want to talk about his interior toughness, his court vision and ball-handling, or his ability to attack the rim and finish through contact.
Ziaire Williams
The sample size is a little bit smaller with Williams, since he's missed three games due to injury, but like Mamu (and the next guy on this list), Ziaire already looks like a perfect complement to Doncic.
Shooting is the first skill required to play alongside Luka, and I don't think many people knew how good of a 3-point threat Ziaire actually is. I certainly didn't. This guy's a really good shooter! Is he going to maintain his currently torrid 47.6 percent from downtown? Of course not. But his form looks really good, and even his misses are right around the rim.
At 6-foot-9 with a ton of athleticism, Williams is also a lob threat for Doncic, and he's unafraid to mix things up physically. This is amazing value for the Lakers at just $2.4 million this year.
Matisse Thybulle
Speaking of great value at $2.4 million ... Thybulle has been about as good as anyone could've imagined he'd be for the Lakers so far. Does anyone get their shot off quicker off the catch than this guy? Like Ziaire and Mamu, Matisse is a floor-spacer, and defensively, he is what he's always been -- a long, athletic, disciplined defender who knows how to play angles and get his hands on everything.
At 29, Thybulle is also somewhat of a wily veteran on this young Lakers squad. His maturity and demeanor fit with this group like a glove.
2 Lakers offseason signings who might've been misses
Quentin Grimes
I'm not going to write a ton of negative stuff about Grimes or the next guy on this list, because the season's young, and I don't want to give up on players this early. It's just not that productive of an exercise.
That said, it's really tough to watch how one-dimensional Grimes is on offense. His problem is that he plays the game at one speed and one speed only (hyper-speed), and while some of his cutting and rip-through dribble drives are violent, they're also predictable.
Defensively, Grimes is an athletic, strong body, but he doesn't offer the length or height that Thybulle and Williams do on the wing. Nor is Grimes the 3-point threat off the catch that those two (not to mention Mamu) are.
Kevon Looney
Again, the season is young, but Looney looks out of shape, slow, and unplayable so far! Wasn't the point of signing Looney to have a player eat minutes and spell Walker Kessler? Why does Looney look so unprepared for the season, and also sort of disinterested?
I'm going to give Loon the benefit of the doubt and assume that his veteran body is saving itself for the latter half of the campaign and the postseason before flipping the switch. Either way, Pelinka should absolutely be shopping for another center.
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