Before the NBA suspended the season, the Los Angeles Lakers were open to plans of possibly adding another shooter. They would have to cut someone first to make that happen but it appears even that will be on hold. Regardless, an NBA veteran is standing up for J.R. Smith and believes he is the right guy that can boost the Lakers bid for an NBA title. That is if the season still goes on as scheduled.
Smith worked out alongside Dion Waiters recently but the Lakers opted to go with Waiters. The decision seemed logical considering Waiters saw some action this 2019-20 NBA season. However, it appears that Los Angeles is not entirely done loading up on shooters. Smith could still get in if the NBA season resumes.
One person who believes Smith is a perfect fit is Jamal Crawford, the 39-year-old guard explained how Smith could be a useful addition because he owns a decent stroke from the outside. Aside from that, he pointed out how Smith and LeBron James are familiar with each other. With James expected to play as the point guard of the team, Smith could be another shooter he can dish off during games.
The script has changed for the Lakers who were originally targeting a point guard. Despite the availability of guys like Isaiah Thomas, the purple and gold looked for a shooter instead per The Athletic. Waiters fit that category and have a more than decent field goal percentage. In the case of Smith, not only do the Lakers get someone who knows how to put up point but someone who could play defense as well.
Ironically, Crawford would have been an interesting player to add for the Lakers. He fits the need of a point guard but his age is seen as the reason why Los Angeles passed. This is despite the fact that Crawford showed last season with the Phoenix Suns that he could still play at a high level. Probably aware that no call is coming, he does the next best thing trying to campaign for fellow free agents that teams need.
With everything halted for now, even the free agents need to accept the fact that they too need to prioritize health and safety first. There is no telling what the NBA would plan to do after the 30-day hiatus and commissioner Adam Silver said that canceling the season entirely is possible. If so, that would be a big blow to the Lakers, a team favored to win it all this season.
