Prior to next week’s trade deadline, the Los Angeles Lakers have a number of needs. They need another big man, more perimeter defense from their guards, and more shooting on the roster to help spread the floor.
It’s unlikely, though, that the team can address every issue with a single trade. On the other hand, by including one particular player in the mix, the team can look to help themselves in multiple ways.
“They ought to go after 32-year-old big man Kelly Olynyk, who can pass the ball, play strong positional defense, and shoot threes at a forty percent rate. Olynyk is precisely the kind of big man who could play both with and without Davis in the starting lineup, allowing Ham to use his ideal frontcourt lineup flexibility to control opponents’ matchups.”
Although Olynyk wouldn’t fix every problem the Lakers face, he would be a huge assistance. The Lakers would be well served by his skill set, and a move to acquire him would go unnoticed.
Olynyk has averaged eight points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game in 47 games for the Jazz this season. However, his three-point percentage from beyond the arc is 42.5%.
A big man capable of making those kind of high-scoring three-pointers at the arch would completely open up the Lakers offense. The team had assumed that Christian Wood would fill that position, but Olynyk would fill it instead.
The Lakers might be reluctant to part with too much for him because at the end of the season, he will be a free agent. However, the Lakers front office benefits from having a contract that is about to expire.
Olynyk might be a good depth addition for the Lakers that boosts their chances of winning. It’s something to consider, and perhaps in the near future we’ll see him cruising the three-point line for the purple and gold.
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