The Los Angeles Lakers needed a defensive boost on the perimeter this offseason. Rob Pelinka just let a tailor-made fit walk right past them to a different Western Conference contender.
Josh Okogie, one of the league’s most disruptive on-ball defenders, just signed a one-year, $3.1 million deal with the Houston Rockets, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. That is a move the Lakers could have, and arguably should have, made.
Okogie offered exactly what the Lakers lack
At 26 years old, Okogie is exactly the kind of player who fills a critical need without disrupting the chemistry. He defends multiple positions, competes every possession, and does not need the ball in his hands to impact the game. In a league increasingly defined by versatility, Okogie offers it on the one end that matters most for a team like Los Angeles, and that is defense.
Depending on Marcus Smart alone is a risky, frustrating gamble
Sure, the Lakers brought in Marcus Smart to help on that end. Relying on Smart alone, given his recent injury history, is pretty risky.
Okogie would not have been a huge headline signing, but he would have been a smart one. He is a low-cost, high-energy defender who can take pressure off stars and do the dirty work on the wing.
Last season Okogie bounced between the Phoenix Suns and the Charlotte Hornets and did not see consistent minutes. When he did play, he made life hard for opposing guards.
His strength, and relentless motor stood out, whether in transition defense or chasing down loose rebound especially on the offensive glass. He is the type of player you want in a playoff series, someone who does not blink when matched up with elite scorers.
Houston’s tantalizing rise should worry Los Angeles fans
The worst part about this news is that instead of getting him to dress up in purple and gold, he is headed to a rising Houston Rockets team that is absolutely stacking defenders and getting tougher by the week. Let’s not forget that already took away Dorian Finney-Smith from Los Angeles.
At the end of the day, this was a mismanagement to say the least. The Lakers had a chance to quietly upgrade its defense without overspending. They passed on that chance and Houston did not. What is done is done, but let’s just hope this does not come back to bite them come playoff time.