Los Angeles Lakers: Ranking the 5 best buyout candidates
5. Otto Porter Jr.
Technically speaking, Otto Porter Jr. is still a member of the Orlando Magic after he was shipped out by the Chicago Bulls in the Nikola Vucevic trade. But what kind of Lakers article would this be if we didn’t speculate about a player who’s still currently employed by another team?
According to Yahoo! Sports’ Chris Haynes, the Lakers wouldn’t be the only team keeping tabs on OPJ’s situation, even though it appears he’ll remain with the Magic for now.
Multiple teams eyeing Otto Porter Jr., who’s headed to Orlando, as a potential buyout pickup but the veteran forward - for now - plans to remain with the team, league source tells @YahooSports.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) March 25, 2021
That “for now” part is key, however. If Orlando doesn’t deem the 27-year-old wing to be a part of its long-term future — a decision made trickier by his impending free agency — then a buyout could be in Porter’s future. And if that’s the case, the Lakers should give him a serious look.
The biggest knock on Porter has been his inability to stay healthy. After a stirring first 15 games with the Bulls following his trade there in 2019 (17.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game on .483/.488/.906 shooting splits), he only managed 14 games for them in 2019-20 and only 25 this season. His numbers shriveled up as he struggled to stay healthy, but he also topped 38 percent shooting from 3-point range in all three “seasons” in Chicago. If he can manage to stay on the court and provide 3-and-D services as a small-ball 4, that’d be a huge addition for the defending champs at a bargain price.