One of five shooting guards is the Lakers’ target if they want to salvage their season and contend for a championship.
Despite qualifying for the Western Conference Finals the previous season, the Los Angeles Lakers haven’t had the best season thus far. The Lakers, who have a 19-19 record, are a middling team as evidenced by their rankings of 19th in offensive and 16th in defense. Even though they have been All-Star players, LeBron James and Anthony Davis have not received much assistance. The Lakers are confined to a play-in position because of this.
Fortunately, the Lakers may be able to acquire one of the five shooting guards that are available through trades. The Lakers need to bench some players in order to increase their offensive output and stop being a two-man team. They should also look to add more shooting,
Despite qualifying for the Western Conference Finals the previous season, the Los Angeles Lakers haven’t had the best season thus far. The Lakers, who have a 19-19 record, are a middling team as evidenced by their rankings of 19th in offensive and 16th in defense. Even though they have been All-Star players, LeBron James and Anthony Davis have not received much assistance. The Lakers are confined to a play-in position because of this.
Jordan Clarkson, who wore the Purple and Gold from 2015 to 2018, is returning, which not only brings back memories for supporters but also adds a proven scorer to the mix. Whether starting or starting off the bench, Clarkson is a valuable asset due to his ability to score points in large quantities. Clarkson has made 28 appearances this season, scoring 17.4 points per game on average with 19 starts.
His familiarity with the tactics used by the Lakers and the organization itself may make it easier for him to integrate into the team, improving camaraderie and unity on the floor. With his past performance, Clarkson could fill in for any offensive lapses for the Lakers while providing a dependable scoring option and depth to the backcourt. However, with Clarkson’s arrival, Rui Hachimura, who hasn’t quite lived up to the hype (11.6 PPG), creates the possibility of an upgrade.
From the Lakers’ perspective, this trade package seems like a calculated attempt to improve their team’s overall performance and offensive capabilities. Although Clarkson is only shooting 29.9% from three this season, he has a career shooting percentage of 33.7%, so he could be able to improve.
With his wealth of experience and skill set, Bogdan Bogdanovic, who is currently with the Atlanta Hawks, would significantly improve the Lakers’ starting lineup. Interestingly, his shooting percentage (37.5%) is higher than Austin Reaves’ (33.7%), giving the Lakers a dependable option for points from beyond the arc. Furthermore, Bogdanovic fills in any potential holes on the defensive end for the Lakers by virtue of his superior all-around skills when compared to Reaves.
