The Los Angeles Lakers have sat on the sidelines and watched as their fellow Staples Center residents, the Los Angeles Clippers, improve an already-deep squad with a trade for Marcus Morris and a pickup of the bought-out Reggie Jackson (who scored 13 points in a win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday).
The Lakes responded by grabbing Marcus’s brother Markieff Morris, but they waived Troy Daniels on Sunday to make another move. So who should they grab with that roster spot? Let’s rank a few of the options, including a couple who should be VERY familiar with LeBron James.
1. Tyler Johnson
I really like the idea of the Lakers having a ball-handler for the second unit so they don’t have to give as many crunch-time playoff minutes to Rajon Rondo (although, to argue against myself, Playoff Rondo is a real thing). Johnson can do that while playing some good defense on the other end of the floor.
2. Dion Waiters
The Lakers will work out the former Heat guard this week, and the hope is that the pressure would be off of him as a deep bench option to produce like he did a few years ago for the Heat. He’s a sharpshooter from distance, a valuable asset for a team that could use one more shooter.
3. J.R. Smith
COME ON!! LET’S DO IT!!
This is one mostly for the fans. We need a Smith and LeBron reunion in our lives, sooooo badly. Also: Smith has shot 37.3 percent from deep in his career.
Alas, Smith said he hasn’t heard from the Lakers last month …
… and then there’s this news Monday morning:
4. Allen Crabbe
Hear me out. He was awful with the Hawks and worse with the Timberwolves. But I wonder if he finds his normally solid three-point stroke with more spacing and less pressure in Los Angeles.
5. Lance Stephenson
Kind of like the Smith signing above, this would be a lot of fun for fans. But there’s also the fact that the former LeBron James ear blower has been GOOD in China:
