The Los Angeles Lakers have enjoyed success in the free agency market. With the addition of Jake LaRavia, Marcus Smart, and Deandre Ayton, the Purple and Gold addressed some crucial concerns on their roster.
The addition of Ayton has been particularly notable. By acquiring the talented 27-year-old center, the Lakers solidified their starting rotation. His athleticism, rebounding, and efficiency are key traits that would assimilate well with the Lakers’ system.
With frontcourt depth in mind, the Purple and Gold also feature two solid players in Jaxson Hayes and Maxi Kleber. Kleber’s veteran experience, floor-spacing ability, and explosiveness make him a valuable piece. Meanwhile, Hayes’ energy, leaping ability, and developing sharpshooting skills have also been viewed favorably.
While this paints a positive picture for the Lakers’ frontcourt, there are still some shortcomings that need to be addressed.
With Kleber on the trading block and Adou Thiero injured, the Purple and Gold could look to add some more flexibility to their frontcourt. With this in mind, former Knicks forward Precious Achiuwa could prove to be a solid addition to the team.
Achiuwa has been viewed as a high-value asset, especially on a team-friendly contract. While undersized, Achiuwa is capable of playing multiple positions in the frontcourt, although he is primarily a power forward and center. This flexibility could be crucial in shoring up their overall rotation in the event of injuries.
The 25-year-old boasts athleticism and impressive physical tools, which could be of interest to the Lakers.
At 6’8″, Achiuwa is mobile and quick. This often makes him a difficult matchup for larger, floor-bound centers. He also possesses great jumping ability, which makes him an asset as a rim-runner in transition or as a lob threat in the dunker’s spot.
Achiuwa’s skill set translates well to the Lakers’ potential playing style. Although it is unlikely for him to share the floor with Luka Doncic very often, he would certainly be an option that the Lakers’ superstar could make use of.
Last season, the 25-year-old recorded an average of 6.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 50.2% from the floor and 27.8% from three-point range with the Knicks. When considering that he only averaged 20.5 minutes per game, Achiuwa showcased his ability to be productive even in a limited capacity.
The free agent forward has also shown consistent effort on the defensive end. While he is capable of utilizing his agility to stay in front of quicker players on the perimeter, he also possesses the strength to hold off larger players in the low-post. His ability to read passing lanes has also been impressive, as he put up an average of 0.8 steals per game last season.
Achiuwa could be utilized in many ways as a support player on the Lakers’ roster. With his skill set, along with significant playing time, he could also become a key rotation piece.
As things stand, the Purple and Gold still have an open roster spot. While they could utilize this to sign Achiuwa immediately, it is more likely that they will retain this to make a signing before the trade deadline.
The Lakers have also been linked to some other free agent targets. With the likes of Kevin Love emerging as a high-value signing, the Lakers may pass on Achiuwa if Love becomes available in the buyout market.
