Los Angeles Lakers rumors: Lakers looking at Emeka Okafor, Jordan Hill?
The Los Angeles Lakers are attempting to be major players in free agency but there are many other moves they could make to improve their team by a significant amount.
More from Los Angeles Lakers
- NBA rumors: Hawks trade candidate, Sixers miss out, Lakers almost lose Reaves
- Predicting NBA’s Christmas Day Schedule: Lakers, Warriors highlight slate of postseason rematches
- Bronny James collapses at practice, taken to ICU with cardiac arrest
- NBA Rumors: Lakers nearing another savvy minimum signing
- Lakers projected lineup and rotations heading into 2023-24 season
As part of Basketball Insiders’ Jabari Davis’ plan to fix the Lakers, he suggests the Lakers sign Phoenix Suns’ restricted free agent guard Eric Bledsoe to a deal the Suns would be unlikely to match and then try to either pry swingman Trevor Ariza away from the Washington Wizards or sign Cleveland Cavaliers’ unrestricted free agent forward Luol Deng. His latest idea is to either re-sign big man Jordan Hill or try to get Suns’ big man Emeka Okafor (or possibly both) in order to protect the rim.
"Beyond that, I also think you need a rim-protector beside Randle. I love Greg Monroe’s offensive game, but he absolutely is NOT that. I might even consider re-signing Jordan Hill on a 2-year deal, but Emeka Okafor is another option you could probably get at a discount. He sat out all of last season, so I would imagine his body is ready to go."
Both players are flying under the radar at the moment, but as soon as the chips start fall, their interest will pick up. Both players could fill a need in the middle for any team.
Hill went for 9.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game while shooting 54.9% from the field and 68.5% from the free throw line last season. Okafor missed the entire 2013-2014 season, but played in every game during 2012-2014 season, averaging 9.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 blocks per game while shooting 47.7% from the field and 57.1% from the free throw line.