There's no such thing as too much defense in the NBA and that is especially true for the Los Angeles Lakers. With LeBron James and Luka Doncic as the franchise cornerstones, the Lakers can use any defensive role player they can get.
Going out and getting a defensive stopper with the limited resources of the new second-apron league is easier said than done. The Lakers have to jump at any opportunity they get to bring in a plus defender for an affordable price.
One opportunity just fell in the Lakers' lap. After failing to find a trade partner, the Charlotte Hornets waived forward Josh Okogie. Okogie's contract was due to be guaranteed today and the move was widely expected if Charlotte couldn't find a trade partner.
Josh Okogie would be a smart signing for the Lakers
Okogie is one of the better defensive guards in the entire sport, but there is an obvious caveat. The former first-round pick wouldn't have been waived with zero interest at that price point if there weren't holes in his game.
There are some offensive deficiencies in Okogie's game that obviously hampered his market this offseason. It's pretty hard to sell yourself as an offensive weapon with a career 29.9% three-point rate and 40.6% field goal percentage.
That being said, Okogie has shown some improvements over time. His three-point percentage has consistently gone up throughout his career and he finished last season with a 34.8% mark from beyond the arc. He shot 38.1% from three in 25 games before being traded to Charlotte.
Anything the Lakers would get on the offensive end would be a plus. In reality, Okogie would serve best as a wing defender that can help keep the primary rotation fresh during the regular season. Okogie wouldn't get ample playing time, he would be best getting 10-12 minutes a game.
Someone of Okogie's stature isn't going to a decide a playoff run. Signing Okogie isn't the difference between a first-round exit and a trip to the NBA Finals. That isn't enough reason not to make the move, though.
Okogie gives the team flexibility both in the rotations that can be crafted and in the moves that can be made. It is a lot easier to part ways with Jarred Vanderbilt or Gabe Vincent in a trade if Okogie is there to eat up some of the minutes.
It also gives JJ Redick another potential hot hand to turn to in the rotation itself. Okogie will get the best looks possible with LeBron and Luka running the offense. Perhaps he continues to blossom as a scorer and provides an added bonus there as well.
Either way, the case can be made that Okogie has more upside than Shake Milton and Jordan Goodwin. If the Lakers feel that way, signing him is a no-brainer.