NBA free agency kicked off a couple days ago. The Los Angeles Lakers are struggling to keep up. They have made only one signing and suffered a huge loss by watching Dorian Finney Smith join the Houston Rockets. Dorian Finney Smith was the perfect combination of 3-point shooting and solid defending. He had a versatile skill set to fit alongside defensive liability Luka Doncic. The Lakers traded major compensation to get him previously and lost him without getting any compensation back, a disastrous outcome.
The Lakers are looking for a cheaper replacement. They could stumble on former USC Trojan De’Anthony Melton. In a recent article, Bleacher Report writer Adam Peters gave his analysis on Melton potentially landing in LA.
“Unfortunately for Melton, a back injury limited him to just 38 games in 2023-24 and a torn ACL last season meant he played just six games with the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors traded him to the Brooklyn Nets in December for Dennis Schröder and a second-round draft pick. Though Melton has struggled with injuries over the past two seasons, he’s been a reliable option when on the court. In his last healthy season in 2022-23, he put up 10.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 39 percent from three with the Philadelphia 76ers. Melton was on a one-year deal worth $12.8 million last year, but it’s fair to assume the Lakers could sign that 27-year-old at a cheaper price, considering he’s coming off a season spent injured.”
De’Anthony Melton is a 27-year-old high value role player who has been a consistent different maker at every team he has landed on. That is the exact archetype the Lakers have been looking for.
Luka over his career has been a star who has raised the floor of the players around him. De’Anthony Melton, if healthy, could be the next player who benefits from playing with Luka. We could see Melton have a career year in LA and be the exact player the Lakers need to contend in the West.
De’Anthony Melton could join Bronny James as another USC Trojan to play for one of the most historic and scrutinized franchises in the NBA.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Lakers eye former Trojan in NBA free agency
Reporting by Micah Huff, Trojans Wire / Trojans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
