5 Free agents the Lakers definitely must sign after 2024 NBA Draft

Tyus Jones, UFA

There's a strong possibility that the Los Angeles Lakers will lose starting point guard D'Angelo Russell to free agency. Russell has a player option and could potentially sign with another team without requiring a sign-and-trade to be executed.

In the event that such transpires, the Lakers would be wise to go all-in on a sign-and-trade that would land Tyus Jones as the starting point guard to replace him.

Jones, 28, is an unrestricted free agent who ranks among the best point guards in this class of free agents. He's long been heralded as perhaps the best backup in the NBA, and in 2023-24, he proved that he could get the job done as a starter.

Jones finished the 2023-24 season with averages of 12.0 points, 7.3 assists, 2.7 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.6 three-point field goals made on .489/.414/.800 shooting.

An efficient shooter who can play off the ball, as well as one of the best facilitators in the NBA, Jones would be an excellent fit. There are some concerns about his defensive inconsistency, but the Lakers could find an ideal role for him on that end of the floor.

If nothing else can convince you of his value, try this: In 2023-24, Jones posted an assist-to-turnover ratio of 7.35—2.68 higher than the next-leading player in the top 10 in assists per game.

No one in the NBA is better than Jones at creating offense without committing turnovers.