The Los Angeles Lakers need better shooting from distance, and Landry Shamet can give it to them. In last season’s playoffs, Shamet quietly hit 46.7% from beyond the arc for the New York Knicks, a level of accuracy the Lakers sorely lacked.
Last season, Los Angeles shot just 35 percent from three in the postseason, landing them squarely in the middle of the pack, and that was part of the reason they got bounced in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves. That is not going to cut it for a team trying to make a serious run.
Landry Shamet would be a difficult move but a totally worthwhile risk
If they want Shamet, the Lakers would need to get creative to add him. They are already close to being hard-capped by the first apron, so bringing Shamet in means making a consolidation trade.
That could involve moving off some smaller contracts to clear salary and a roster spot. It is not ideal, but it is doable, and could be worth it.
Shamet’s skill set would be able to fill a real void. The Lakers’ bench currently does not have a proven shooter.
If Austin Reaves does not want to take part in playing a Manu Ginobili role and come off the bench, then there will be a lack of scoring for the second unit. Jake LaRavia would be the closest thing to a sniper, and he might greatly improve, but relying on unproven development for a title-contending team is risky.
2025 NBA Playoffs proved Shamet still has playoff value
He is a career 38 percent shooter from deep, but more importantly, he steps up when it matters. During the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers last season, the Knicks turned to Shamet after falling into a 0-2 hole.
Although the Knicks still ended up losing that series, Shamet had some good moments. In Game 6, he hit four threes in just 16 minutes of action.
At 28 years old, Shamet still has time to make some more noise. He has been through ups and downs.
That has included injuries, waivers, and a G League return, but he did a good job responding by reminding teams he can be one of the more reliable shooting specialists in the league. Pair him with elite playmakers like LeBron James or Luka Doncic, and his value should jump to an even higher level.