4 Fringe Lakers players who deserve to return next season
By Will Eudy
2. Harry Giles
Another name that can be intriguing for the Lakers going forward is Harry Giles. Now, some may be thinking this is a ridiculous assertion, as he only played seven games in a Laker uniform this past season. On top of that, he only scored one total made field goal. Judging by that, this guy should be out of the league soon, right?
Don't be so sure. For those that do not know, Harry was once the top recruit in his high school class back in 2016. He was a stellar player, and after committing to Duke University, many believed he could be on his way to NBA stardom in short order.
Instead, what set him back was continued injury troubles. Tearing an ACL heading into his senior year of high school, Giles did not end up playing a full season in college. This came after ACL, MCL and meniscus injuries earlier in his high school career. Still, Harry was drafted and did not give up on his dream of playing in the NBA.
After playing for Sacramento and Portland, Harry took the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons off to focus on his health after recurring injuries. This past year, he finally made his comeback, and the Lakers should be eager to bring him back. Giles is too much of a wild card to simply toss aside.