7. Lonnie Walker IV
Walker IV played for the Lakers last season. He mostly served as a shot-maker off the bench as he averaged 11.7 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 23.2 minutes per game. The 6’4 wing slipped from the rotation down the stretch but was given another shot in the Warriors series and played in each of the team’s final nine postseason games.
Walker IV left in free agency for Brooklyn where he took his game to another level. The 25-year-old is averaging 12.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 19.4 minutes per game. He is shooting 48.1 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from long range over his first 22 contests with the Nets.
Brooklyn is struggling to begin the season. They are eight games under .500 and battling just to make the Play-In Tournament in the Eastern Conference. They could blow things up, and Walker’s one-year minimum contract could draw interest from several teams.
Verdict: The Lakers should be searching for wings who can space the floor. Lonnie Walker’s defense is slightly below what Los Angeles wants, but it could be a cheap alternative on the wing capable of filling a 15-to-20 minutes per game in the playoffs. It is certainly not perfect, but Rob Pelinka and the Lakers could do worse.