Anyone looking at the current crop of Los Angeles Lakers could tell you there is still work to be done in terms of additions. The wing spots stand out as the clear source of the roster problems that require more attention. Rob Pelinka and the front office recognize as much, according to Dan Woike.
"The next piece of business for the Lakers is finding help in the form of a wing defender. Lakers have been used as a successful launching pad for players on min deals in the past and will be making that pitch."
Woike reported the Lakers are still seeking a young wing to help their perimeter defense. Jonathan Kuminga was brought up as a target in free agency connected to this idea. There should be more options beyond just that risky side quest, though.
His name is far from glamorous, but Josh Okogie could give the Lakers exactly what they are asking for on the defensive perimeter. The Lakers saw the value of a hounding point of attack defender when Marcus Smart was in Los Angeles. Okogie could replicate some of those intangibles.
Josh Okogie fits what the Lakers are looking for on the wings
At first glance, Okogie may look a touch undersized on the wings, standing at only 6-foot-4 in shoes. However, his 7-foot wingspan more than makes up for the perceived slight to his height.
Okogie is relentless in terms of effort. He is exactly the type of defender who raises competitive levels. While the currently former Houston Rockets wing is certainly no Smart in that regard, the Lakers would get some shades of what their now departed guard gave them.
The elephant in the room with Okogie is naturally his offense. The eight-year veteran is quite limited on that end. From what the Lakers have indicated through their offseason transactions, they are not interested in having too many guys who only play one end of the basketball court.
Okogie only averaged 2.1 3-point attempts in 17.4 minutes per game with the Rockets last season. That is where the Lakers would like him to contribute in an offense with Luka Doncic, if they were to employ him. To his credit, at least the free agent wing was knocking down a career high 38.5 percent on that limited volume.
If the Lakers are comfortable with the belief that Okogie can at least hit his open attempts, something other members of the rotation struggled to do last season, there could be good value in the addition. Not every signing is going to be as big as the ones Los Angeles already had. Some of them need to be under the radar moves like this.
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