Grading the Lakers' 5 free agent signings thus far

#3 JaVale McGee - C

2018 NBA Finals - Game Four

The reason the McGee signing receives a C rating has a lot to do with the fact that the Lakers did not lodge any kind of a recruiting pitch for DeMarcus Cousins, who has since gone on to sign with the Warriors for the taxpayer's midlevel exception of $5.3 million.

At his best, McGee can be a force on the boards, a passable rim protector and is comfortable when getting switched out to the perimeter while posing a lob threat on the offensive end. However, the upside with him, currently in line to play for his 11th season in the league, is quite limited in comparison to Boogie.

The Lakers might, in fact, have been better off paying the veteran's minimum to Nerlens Noel, who has demonstrated Capela-like abilities on both ends of the floor in the limited playing time that he's gotten for the Mavericks over the past two seasons.