NBA Free Agency 2020: 5 offseason targets for the Los Angeles Lakers
2. Wesley Matthews
The Lakers badly need a 3-and-D wing to replace Danny Green, and according to The New York Times‘ Marc Stein, they’ve already got one in their sights:
More on how the Lakers' roster shapes up for their forthcoming title defense:
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) November 15, 2020
League sources say they have interest in trying to sign Wesley Matthews away from Milwaukee to replace Green
At this stage of his career, Wesley Matthews is not on the same plane as Green, but even at age 34, he’s still a reliable wing defender and 3-point threat (36.4 percent last year, 38.1 percent for his career). Los Angeles needs reliable veterans for another deep playoff run, and Matthews is one of the better, more affordable options on the market. The defending champs could very well get away with a veteran minimum contract here, which would preserve their $3.6 million Bi-Annual Exception.
As the Milwaukee Bucks were getting torched by Jimmy Butler in the second round of the playoffs, Matthews must’ve been seething on the bench; he was the only one defending Butler well but, for some inexplicable reason, he continued to ride the pine. It was a mistake on Mike Budenholzer’s part that could very well cost the Bucks one of their more reliable two-way players if and when the Lakers come calling.