The Los Angeles Lakers have recently acquired Russell Westbrook to fill their void at point guard and to add star power to the roster. He’ll certainly be a great addition: Russell Westbrook is a triple-double machine, and he will be a capable second ballhandler behind LeBron James. Russell Westbrook can also score well when necessary, though with two other superstars on his team the scoring load on him is surely lessened.
However, while Russell Westbrook brings a lot of positives to the team, one of the areas that he doesn’t help them improve in is 3PT shooting. The Lakers shot 34.9% from 3PT range last year, only 23rd in the league. Adding Russell Westbrook does nothing to change that, as he is certainly not the best shooter.
148 players have attempted 1,500+ three-pointers over the past decade.
Of those 148 players, Buddy Hield ranks sixth in 3PT percentage (40.6%), behind only Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Kyle Korver, JJ Redick and Joe Harris.
Of those 148, Russell Westbrook ranks dead last (31%)
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) July 29, 2021
To make the best of the playmaking of Russell Westbrook and LeBron James, the Los Angeles Lakers will need to add some 3PT shooters around their roster. Adding outside sharpshooters around super-talented playmakers has always been a good formula, and that is the case for Westbrook as well. It is likely that Russell Westbrook could score and run the offense when LeBron James is off the court, and create opportunities for floor spacers. Here are the best 3PT shooters who the Los Angeles Lakers could potentially add to their roster.
7. JJ Redick
2020-21 Stats: 7.4 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 1.2 APG, 39.7 FG%, 37.1 3PT%
JJ Redick has always had a reputation as a good long-distance shooter. The 2020-21 season hasn’t been the best for JJ Redick, and he struggled with injury during his time with the Dallas Mavericks after his acquisition from the New Orleans Pelicans. However, during the 2019-20 season, Redick averaged 15.3 PPG, while shooting 45.3% from beyond the arc.
The Los Angeles Lakers could acquire JJ Redick in the hopes that he will bounce back from his down season. Even if Redick doesn’t get back to his prior levels, he is still a player who will always be able to shoot, and as an older veteran, he’d be a great addition to the team.
6. Wayne Ellington
2020-21 Stats: 9.6 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 1.5 APG, 44.1 FG%, 42.2 3PT%
The Detroit Pistons may have been tanking this season, but they do have some solid players on their roster. Wayne Ellington is one of them as he has shown to be a capable spot-up shooter, and his percentages would back that up.
Wayne Ellington would be a perfect piece as a late bench player, and he can consistently knock down open threes. There is no question that he would get a lot of open looks off of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and he would be a great addition on a veteran minimum contract.
5. Danny Green
2020-21 Stats: 9.5 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.7 APG, 41.2 FG%, 40.5 3PT%
Danny Green brought the crucial veteran and championship experience that the Philadelphia 76ers needed this season. While they fell short of their goal to win a title, it is clear that Danny Green was a key contributor on the 76ers with his defensive prowess and shooting ability.
On the defensive end, Green has the size to comfortably switch 2 through 4, and while he can be inconsistent at times with his shooting, finding a wing who can contribute on both ends in free agency isn’t easy. Danny Green was notably part of a championship-winning squad with LeBron James during the 2019-20 season, and perhaps they could reunite on the Lakers and chase a title once again.
4. Reggie Bullock
2020-21 Stats: 10.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.5 APG, 44.2 FG%, 41.0 3PT%
Reggie Bullock was crucial to the New York Knicks making the playoffs this season, due to his amazing shooting prowess. While Bullock doesn’t go out there and break someone off the dribble, he is a steady shooter who can consistently hit shots off the catch and play off the ball.
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers will need players who can buy into a smaller role, and Reggie Bullock has shown that he can do that. Reggie Bullock is a great pure 3 and D option, and he would be a great fit next to two amazing playmakers on the Lakers.
3. Patty Mills
2020-21 Stats: 10.8 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 2.4 APG, 41.2 FG%, 37.5 3PT%
Patty Mills has won a championship with the San Antonio Spurs during the 2014 season, so he knows what it takes to get to and win the Finals. His veteran experience and the ability to fit into a role would make him a valuable acquisition for the Los Angeles Lakers.
While Mills is viewed as a role player, he can certainly take on more responsibility when shots aren’t falling for the team’s stars. He is also a capable ball-handler and can create off the dribble and get to the cup. Patty Mills would give the Los Angeles Lakers a capable shooter who could also be a secondary ballhandler next to LeBron James and Russell Westbrook on bench units.
2. Alec Burks
2020-21 Stats: 12.7 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.2 APG, 42.0 FG%, 41.5 3PT%
Alec Burks is another shooter that was part of the spirited New York Knicks squad that has made it to the playoffs this season. While Alec Burks may be viewed as just a floor spacer by some, he has some ability to generate his own offense, and his shooting was key for the New York Knicks this season next to Julius Randle.
On the Los Angeles Lakers, Alec Burks could start at the SG position, and his ability to play with or without the ball would be useful next to ball-dominant superstars. He could also potentially be a bench scorer, depending on what other moves the Los Angeles Lakers make. Burks could fit into a lot of different roles on a contender, and if they sign him, the Los Angeles Lakers would certainly find a use for him.
1. Carmelo Anthony
2020-21 Stats: 13.4 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.5 APG, 42.1 FG%, 40.9 3PT%
Carmelo Anthony would bring a lot to the table if he were signed by the Los Angeles Lakers. He is a good friend of LeBron James, and it is possible that James will recruit him to the team. Anthony has shown his capabilities as a microwave scorer off the bench for the Portland Trail Blazers, and that could be a great role for him on the Los Angeles Lakers as well.
In his prime, Carmelo Anthony has been known as a good shot creator. While being a high-volume scorer is no longer his role, the ability to score in isolation is an added bonus with Anthony. While they are not as frequent these days, Carmelo Anthony still has nights where he can score at a high level. If Carmelo Anthony joins the Los Angeles Lakers, he could help them a lot with his varied skill set.
