#3 Kent Bazemore
Kent Bazemore was signed by the LA Lakers early in NBA Free Agency. Having been a Laker in the past, Bazemore spent the 2020-21 season playing with the Golden State Warriors.
Bazemore is another great addition to the Lakers roster for the upcoming season. As a veteran, Bazemore can offer serious scoring punches off the bench and can also contribute as a serviceable defender.
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Because of his long wingspan and athleticism, Bazemore is able to move his feet and get to spots to make key defensive plays. On the offensive end he is capable of contributing as someone who can cut to the basket, create his own shot off the drive or someone who can spot-up for a three-pointer in the corner.
Kent Bazemore averaged 7.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in the 2020-21 season. While these numbers are not awe inspiring, he shot 40.8% from beyond the arc. Having had a career year from downtown, Bazemore only attempted 2.7 threes for the season. If required to take more, there is a possible upside.
#2 Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Anthony was one of the biggest names to join the Lakers in the offseason. Having been part of the same draft class as LeBron James, Anthony looks to bring solid veteran experience and scoring prowess to the team.
Anthony has been one of the most gifted scoring minds in the history of the NBA. From his ability to score in midrange to his performance in clutch situations, Carmelo Anthony is a certified bucket. Anthony spent most of last season coming off the bench for the Portland Trail Blazers.
During his time with Portland, he was a productive member of the team. Having gone to two playoffs with them consecutively, Anthony took some of the scoring duties off of Damian Lillard.
As a shooter, Carmelo Anthony's record speaks for itself. Anthony averaged 13.1 points and 3.1 rebounds last season while shooting 42.9% from the field. He also shot 40.9% from three-point territory which is a major upside as it was a career-best for him.
#1 Wayne Ellington
Wayne Ellington is the probably the best signing for the LA Lakers purely in terms of shooting ability. After the departure of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the Lakers needed a solid spot-up shooter who could also defend guards for them. While Ellington doesn't give them much defensively, as a shooter he definitely fits the bill.
Having played the 2020-21 season with the Detroit Pistons, Ellington was an important part of the guard rotation. Averaging 9.6 points and 1.8 rebounds for the season, Ellington shot 42.2% from behind the three-point line.
That was the second-best three-point shooting percentage of his career. Coming off of a 35% shooting year with the New York Knicks, there is some hope for improved shooting with the Lakers as well.
Ellington does not provide much outside of his shooting from beyond the arc, so it is unknown as to how he will contribute to the scoring. But if his shooting resembles his average from last season, it does legitimize him as a threat from deep.
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