Beat Reporter Considers Free Agent Floor-Spacing Big Man Fit For Lakers
There's been a significant amount of speculation on the bevy of impending Lakers free agents set to hit the market this offseason, so it only makes sense to explore the other side of that equation.
Which players due to hit free agency could become new Lakers this summer.
Jovan Buha of The Athletic explored that question, and he brought up a name that may not come to Lakers fans' minds at first, but could play a large role nonetheless.
While discussing players that could come to Los Angeles via the midlevel exception, he brought up Georges Niang as a possibility.
A seventh-year forward out of Iowa State, Niang has established himself as a good defender and a reliable big that can stretch the floor, shooting 40 percent from three last season with the Philadelphia 76ers, and hitting around that mark in every full season of his career.
Looking at Niang's skill set, he could definitely provide depth behind Anthony Davis, and the Lakers won't lose much with Niang coming off the bench. He's particularly skilled with his face-up game, and can distribute well for a big, something that could help elevate Los Angeles' bench scoring.
The fact that he could not only help take some of the weight off Anthony Davis -- and that the franchise could likely afford him comfortably using their midlevel exception, should make him an attractive option for the Lakers to look at this offseason.
Generally, any perimeter help that the Lakers could get on the market should help them, given that they we're tied at 24th in the NBA with the Orlando Magic in three point shooting, hitting them at a pedestrian.
Given that Niang fits the bill as an efficient three-point shooter and the fact that the NBA continues to emphasize the perimeter game on offense, there's an abundant amount of factors that would make him a quality addition to the roster ahead of next season.
