Under the radar 2019 NBA free agent targets for Lakers
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Almost everyone is talking about big free agent names that will be available in the market once this season unfolds, the likes of Kevin Durant, Demarcus Cousins, Kawhi Leonard and more. Its like we are living in an era of building superteams, teams that consists of many all-stars which we think is necessary to dethrone the Warriors as the defending champion. But we often forget the role players that helped a lot of teams to get that once in a lifetime opportunity to get a ring in the NBA, the unsung heroes like Robert Horry, Steve Kerr, Derek Fisher which are not all-star players but just the needed piece for a championship contender team.
After the Los Angeles Lakers landed the biggest fish in the pond just this summer 2018 which is none other than Lebron James, the future seems brighter than before for the purple and gold. Finally they are in the mix again after several years of playoff drought since Kobe Bryant suffered a career ending injury in 2013 which led to the team demise and it was really unsightly for arguably the greatest franchise in the history of NBA. Suddenly Lakers is now building a team that can content with a lot of superteams especially in the loaded western conference and one thing to do is to get pieces in free agency that is why the team signed all one year contracts to land that star player that could help Lebron and the squad for a title run. But that's not what I'm going to discuss today, I will lists some under the radar players that would be a great addition to the Lakers next season.
Nikola Mirotic,PF
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In an era of floor spacing teams which mostly consists of perimeter and long range snipers Nikola Mirotic is a big man that could actually do the modern style of play. He could help the Lakers fill the lack of three point shooters and help spread the floor for Lebron to penetrate the paint much efficient. It's just fresh in the recent playoff run when Boogie Cousins couldn't play and Mirotic is the one that replace Boogie in the starting lineup and able to contribute and knock down 43% of his three point attempts after upsetting Damian Lillard and the Trail Blazers in the playoffs.
Trevor Ariza,SF
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Who wants to see Trevor in a Lakers jersey again? why not after helping Kobe to win a championship ring in 2009 and for sure an important piece of that 2009 roster. Ariza is a prototypical Three and D guy that could surely help the Lakers which is in dire need of perimeter defender wings. He shot 37% of his threes last season, but he will be turning 34 next year before the season starts so he might be a good off the bench player for the Lakers.
Danny Green, SF/SG
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After being traded to the Raptors as one of the trade piece in the Kawhi-Spurs drama, Green will be a free agent next summer. A career 39.5 % three point shooter that could make Lebron James much comfortable in penetrate and kickout situatuon and a great perimeter defender that could greatly help Lakers for a title contention next year as we know defense wins championships. A champion and veteran like green could make the Lakers even better and is for sure a great fit for Luke Walton's system.