Lakers Urged to Sign Stephen Curry Brother-in-Law
The Los Angeles Lakers have to make a few big moves in the offseason. Lakers director of basketball operations Rob Pelinka has been advised to trade Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis, and pretty much every player on his roster, including LeBron James. Well, Dan Favale from Bleacher Report believes that the Lakers should sign someone close to Stephen Curry. Oh, yes, some still believe that the Lakers should get the Golden State Warriors superstar, too.
What about Damion Lee? He is Curry’s brother-in-law and also an unrestricted free agent.
“Damion Lee can deepen the rotation on a beggar’s dime,” Favale wrote. “He wasn’t as much of a staple in the Golden State Warriors rotation to close this season, but his usage is extremely plug-and-go. … Shooting? And defense? From the same player? For someone possibly low profile enough to slip through to the minimum-salary ranks? Inject it all right into the Lakers’ depth chart. They need it.”
Lee is averaging 7.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 10.0 assists in 63 games with the Warriors this season. The veteran shot 44.1% from the field, 33.7% from beyond the arc, and 88.0% from the free-throw line.
Lakers didn’t sign Curry and his brother-in-law makes sense
Grant Hughes from Bleacher Report discussed Lee’s potential role with the Lakers. He could easily see him join the Lakers. Is Lee the next player to join the Lakers? Hughes bets on him.
“The veteran wing has averaged 20.6 minutes per game for the Warriors during his four years with the team, and he’s been a reliable source of three-point shooting (35.7 percent for his career) and solid perimeter defense,” Hughes wrote. “A sharp off-ball mover, Lee ranked in the 81st percentile in points per possession on cuts this season. Though his numbers dipped a bit from deep in 2021-22, he also shot 40.5 percent on spot-up threes a year ago. Adding to the package, Lee has ranked in the top quartile at his position in defensive rebound rate during every year of his career.”
Thirteen Lakers players may leave the team in the offseason. The franchise has a taxpayer MLE worth $6,932,000. Pelinka can use the money and some veteran deals to reshape his roster. LeBron and AD are still around and Pelinka will probably build the 2022/23 roster around both superstars.