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NBA Free Agency 2017: 5 offseason targets for the Los Angeles Lakers

By Brendon Kleen

Mar 24, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA: Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton talks with Lakers forward Brandon Ingram (14) during the second half of a NBA game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA: Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton talks with Lakers forward Brandon Ingram (14) during the second half of a NBA game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 10, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Michael Carter-Williams (7) dribbles the ball against the Orlando Magic during the first half at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Michael Carter-Williams (7) dribbles the ball against the Orlando Magic during the first half at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Michael Carter-Williams, Chicago Bulls

Looking through the free agent list for this summer, my eyes kept going back to Carter-Williams. He was included in the deal that originally sent the Lakers’ first-round pick from the Suns to the Sixers, though it is now owned by Boston. In that way, it would be funny to see Carter-Williams, one of the big assets in that deal, end up back in LA on a below-market deal. Funny for fans, not so much for Carter-Williams.

Though it wouldn’t be a massive cash grab for the fifth-year point guard, it would be an opportunity to start fresh. Heightened expectations have plagued the young guard wherever he’s gone. In Philadelphia, he was the Rookie of the Year who shouldn’t have been, an answer to the Process far too early on. For Milwaukee, he was the return for Brandon Knight, an All-Star candidate and franchise favorite. Last year with the Bulls, he was the point guard depth piece who was supposed to help the rotation settle into place. Chicago had big-time playoff aspirations.

In Los Angeles, Carter-Williams could return to the fun of playing basketball. There are almost zero competitive expectations for this Lakers team, and their style fits Carter-Williams perfectly. He plays the game very similarly to Lonzo Ball with the ball in his hands, though he is obviously not the shooter Ball was in college. MCW can, however, pull off a lot of the fun things Walton asks of his guards in their half court offense. Imagine the lanky point guard filling a Shaun Livingston-type role for this team in the way Walton and Kerr deploy Livingston for the Warriors.

Grab a rebound, accelerate into transition offense, settle into a turnaround jumper along the baseline, and back to work on defense. Rinse, repeat, reap the benefits. Carter-Williams is destined to be a good role player for a team that can mask his lack of scoring ability. Under Walton, he could learn to read an offense better and really focus on his defense. This is a really nice match.

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