[Tobe BryantParticipant]

It’s no secret that the Lakers aren’t built completely to compete for the NBA championship for years to come by the standards of the Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls and OKC Thunder. The glaring weaknesses that I see in the Lake Show rotation is the absence of a wing off the bench, coupled with lack of bench production. Troy Murphy and Matt Barnes may not be back with the team next year, so the Lakers will need prospects. There are several great guys that the Lakers may sign in order to beef up their reserves.

Who do you see the Lakers eyeing during this free-agent period? Here are my list of a few players:

Michael Beasley: The Lakers pursued Beasley during the trade deadline, but were unable to snag him. He is clearly the odd man out of Minny’s rotation and needs somewhere to display his offensive talent. A smooth lefty who can score all over the floor and finish with power. Rebounds at a decent rate and is a mismatch from the 3/4 spot. His youth and potential is what makes him an attractive piece. His defense is VERY shaky, but hopefully Mike Brown can shape that up.

Terrence Williams: Williams is a poor man’s Andrew Iguodala and is EXTEREMELY versatile. His shooting needs work, and his attitude is questionable. But the ability to handle the ball, pass, and finish at 6’6 can provide L.A. with a solid wing to soak up minutes to rest Kobe and Artest. Williams can play the point forward position effectively, and with Kobe molding him as a player, this guy can show some outstanding skills!

Louis Willaims: Assuming the Sixers don’t sign him back and the Lakers have the money to spend, you get yourself a solid scorer and decent distributor. Outside of Manu Ginobli, James Harden, and Jason Terry, I feel Williams is the best 6th man that a team can find. He is fast, is much more athletic than given credit. He is undersized and not a pure PG nor is able to defend the 2 spot, but he can fill it up with ease! Also he uses his length to get steals and start the break. Nice qualities that could help L.A.

Donte Greene: A 6’10 SF/PF that can create a mismatch on offense. He is a volume shooter and doesn’t get to the basket often and use his size and handle to his advantage. Playing with Kobe, Pau, and Drew, Greene will be able to get many open 3s from the wing.

C.J. Miles: A wing with great size and can score all around the perimeter. He hasn’t seemed to live up to a solid role in the NBA coming out of high school, and he needs to find a niche for a squad.

Chase Budinger: With the emergence of Chandler Parsons for the Rockets, I can see the Lakers trying to pursue Budinger. He is a deceptively athletic finisher and can shoot the 3, a definite need for L.A.

Steve Novak: DEADLY SHOOTER from 3 pt. range! Spreads the floor and probably won’t cost a whole lot of money! His defense is suspect though…

Dahntay Jones: Solid physical wing that can defend and athletic. Doesn’t offer a whole lot on offense though, and this is where L.A. needs the help!

 

 

 

[iguapops420Participant]

 I could see Williams, Beasley, Mayo, Budinger, J.Crawford, C.Lee, Rush, and Miles. Vets such as R.Jefferson, Ray allen, or KG may end up the idea as well. Personally I’d like to see LAL go after Jamison as a bench 4 who can be an instant scoring punch and stretch the floor. Jefferson to backup Ebanks for 22-24MPG and trade for some type of PG shooter or allow Glock to backup Sessions. Hopefully we can resign Hill to a small contract.

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

That is as bad as the list of free agent centers.

Beasley won’t defend and in both spots has been a guy who is going to put up shots at a star rate despite the fact he is not a star. On a team with Kobe, Pau, and Bynum, the last thing the Lakers should want is a guy who doesn’t know where he is on the totem pole.

Terrence Williams has bummed his way out of a pair of cities because he is a guy who needs a lot of work and doesn’t want to do it at practice. Devin Ebanks offers just as much upside with more length and a significantly better work ethic and professionalism.

Louis Williams is out of the Laker price range.

Donte Greene was a prospect because he supposedly could shoot, but four years in is 30 percent from 3 and 40 percent from the field while offering little else.

C.J. Miles is a smaller Beasley. He wants to shoot it as much as he possibly can, but offers little else without being good enough as a scorer to merit being that way. He doesn’t pass, defend, or rebound.

Budinger is going to stay in Houston with the team option they hold.

Novak is a one-trick pony, and while he deserves to be in the league because he can stroke it there are enough guys like him so that a team shouldn’t want to pay them.

Dahntay Jones has a player option or ETO, and I can’t see him turning away guaranteed money after this season.

[Tobe BryantParticipant]

 Are any of the Lakers bench players better than anyone on this list? Hmmm….

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

Better than Donte Greene and Terrence Williams? Yes.

Beasley and CJ Miles have talent, but they don’t play winning basketball. McRoberts has talent too, but it doesn’t help the Lakers.

[natedogggParticipant]

your forgetting that the lakers only have the mini MLE of roughly 2.5 mil to spend. they wont be able to shop much and the main focus will be on keeping sessions and hill.

[xavier328Participant]

Man i would love Crawford or Mike Beasley coming off the bench, we need someone off the bench who can create for himself….i know its a long shot but woud be nice to have.

[Critically ThinkingParticipant]

 is matt barnes better than anyone else on this list? absolutely yes. the guy brings three point shooting ability, the ability to slash off the ball in the lane and finish, and hes a good wing defender. Ive always thought hes been underrated coming off the bench for the lakers. but other than him that bench is putrid. (yeah i know steve blake hit the dagger tonight)

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

History tells me that the Lakers will go after a guy like Antwain Jamison..Someone that can provide them with immediate contribution …With that 2.3 million dollar MLE he might be willing to accept it to get a ring..Last season the Lakers were looking to add some outside shooting & a star point guard..Both turned into epic fails..They ended up with aging stiffs like Murphy & Kapono as their outside shooters and a career backup in Sessions as their point guard…And no toughness,besides Artest in their lineup….

But the Lakers head hunchos have never let a money issue stop them from bringing a star..They’ve always figured out a way to make it work… And i expect them to look to add 1 this year..Dont be surprise if they go after Igoudala..Philly has made it known that he’s available..

[PulseGlazerParticipant]

With 2.5 mil only, don’t hold your breath.

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