Cole Swider just had one of the most efficient Summer League runs in recent memory, and the Los Angeles Lakers might let him walk. According to The Stein Line, Swider is close to signing with Anadolu Efes in Türkiye.
If that happens, Los Angeles could be giving away exactly what they need. That would be a reliable, low-cost shooter who could fit perfectly next to Luka Doncic.
Cole Swider could be the one that got away
Swider averaged 18.4 points per game this summer while hitting more than 40 percent of his shots from beyond the arc at just over eight attempts per game. That kind of volume and efficiency is extremely hard to ignore, especially for a Lakers team still struggling to find consistent floor spacing.
The concern regarding this situation is not hypothetical. The Lakers need to build around Doncic’s playmaking if they want to be successful, as no player in the NBA has created more corner three-point looks in recent years.
According to an article published by ESPN, only Rui Hachimura, Jake LaRavia, and Dalton Knecht hit corner threes at an above-average rate last season. That is just not enough if this team has real championship aspirations.
Swider is not only just a great shooter. He is a smart, off-ball mover who can be a seamless fit within most of the NBA’s modern offenses.
With JJ Redick, one of the most respected shooters of his generation, as the head coach for this Lakers squad, it is hard not to wonder what he could have done with Swider’s development.
Swider is not a guy who came out of nowhere. He has had steady success in the G League, averaging 21 points and hitting 44 percent from three with South Bay last year.
Even in one February game, he was able to pour in 36 points. He has always been able to light it up from deep, even since his time at Villanova and Syracuse, where he shot 38 percent from three across 110 college games.
The Lakers do not have much flexibility. They are hard-capped and only have $2.3 million to spend. Players like Swider, who are affordable and tailor-made for today’s game, are exactly the kind of talent they should be trying to develop and keep in-house.
If this move goes through, and Swider ends up thriving overseas or coming back to the league with another team, the Lakers may look back and wonder why they let a perfect fit slip through the cracks.