Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant lead a star-studded class of free agents as the NBA world prepare for a wild offseason period that starts Sunday night, but even if a team strikes out in pursuit of a superstar, there’s a large number of second-level players available who can have a serious impact in the coming season.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ front office will have to make tough choices in the coming days, as the team has opened up enough salary cap room to pursue a max player – but may be better off surrounding LeBron James and Anthony Davis with talented role players. ESPN’s Jalen Rose listed five coveted players in the second-tier of free agents, and noted that several of the players would be a perfect fit for LeBron’s new team in LA.
PG Patrick Beverley
2018-19 stats: 27.4 mpg, 7.6 ppg, 3.8 apg, 5.0 rpg, 0.9 spg, .407 FG%, .397 3P%
SG Malcolm Brogdon (restricted)
2018-19 stats: 28.6 mpg, 15.6 ppg, 3.2 apg, 4.5 rpg, .0.7 spg, .505 FG%, .426 3P%
SF Bojan Bogdanovic
2018-19 stats: 31.8 mpg, 18.0 ppg, 2.0 apg, 4.1 rpg, 0.9 spg, .497 FG%, .425 3P%
PF Julius Randle
2018-19 stats: 30.6 mpg, 21.4 ppg, 3.1 apg, 8.7 rpg, 0.7 spg, 0.6 bpg, .524 FG%, .344 3P%
C Brook Lopez
2018-19 stats: 28.7 mpg, 12.5 ppg, 1.2 apg, 4.9 rpg, 2.2 bpg, .452 FG%, .365 3P%
