James Ennis
Rajon Rondo’s signing with the Los Angeles Lakers filled their need for a third point guard they were looking for. With the acquisition of DeAndre Jordan, the last thing the Lakers are looking to add is a player on the wing.
James Ennis would be a strong choice to fill that spot on the roster. He would provide depth at the small forward position that doesn’t really have any true small forwards.
At this point in their careers, Trevor Ariza and Carmelo Anthony are better suited for power forward. LeBron James and Talen Horton-Tucker can also play minutes at the three spot but might be needed elsewhere as well.
James Ennis played well for the Orlando Magic last season, averaging 8.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 24 minutes per game. He was excellent at shooting the ball from range, making 43.3 percent of his 3-point attempts.
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The Long Beach State product is also a serviceable defender. Teams can never have enough 3-and-D wings, and the Lakers traded away their best one from the last few seasons, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
On a minimum contract, James Ennis provides solid value. It would not have been shocking to see him land a partial mid-level exception based on his production last season. That never materialized, so the Lakers could cash in on adding another solid wing to their rotation.