3. Los Angeles Lakers
Maybe it’s time to see what the #LonzoEffect does to Okafor?
A rough summer league might have knocked Ivica Zubac out of the Lakers’ everyday rotation, and they aren’t exactly swimming in sustainable depth with an injury-prone Andrew Bogut behind Brook Lopez. Magic Johnson has always been a fan of Jah’s, and perhaps the low price could convince the Lakers to pull the trigger.
This Lakers team likes to get out an run, which is what Ball is there to do. That’s not Okafor’s stylistic forte, but it’s the kind of evolution he needs to make if he wants to stick in today’s league. Los Angeles, for all their faults, could get him some playing time and place him in a position to — potentially — succeed beyond next season.
Part of what Okafor needs is somebody committed to him. The Sixers clearly aren’t, and this Lakers squad may be one of the few teams willing to make Okafor a legitimate part of their future.
Defensive issues are going to be a long-term concern for L.A., but trying to make Okafor fit in on offense could be a worthwhile endeavor given just how cheap his price tag is at this point.