After reaching the Western Conference finals this NBA season, the LA Lakers are sure to be a busy team this summer. Along with making decisions on some players they acquired at the trade deadline, they’ll also be surveying the open market for possible upgrades.
With the start of free agency still a few weeks away, Jovan Buha of The Athletic dove into some possible targets for the Lakers. Among the names mentioned was Philadelphia 76ers sharpshooter Georges Niang.
It took some time for Niang to break into the NBA, but he’s turned himself into a quality role player in recent years. Since joining the Philadelphia 76ers back in 2021, he’s put up some of the best numbers of his six-year career.
Niang, 29, played in 78 games for Philly last season. In that span, he averaged 8.2 PPG while shooting 40.1% from beyond the arc on close to five attempts per game. This marked the fifth-straight year where he connected on more than 40% of his three-point attempts.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Georges Niang, Philadelphia 76ers & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
From a fit perspective, Niang makes a lot of sense for the Lakers. He is the exact type of supporting player they should be trying to add around LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Having an efficient marksman like that makes it easier to open up the floor for their star duo.
While Niang provides a lot on the offensive end, his defensive shortcomings limit his impact. This has caused his minutes in the playoffs to take a slight dip as opponents have attacked him on that end of the floor.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Georges Niang, Philadelphia 76ers & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
As a team looking to contend, the Lakers need guys who play hard and have experience in the playoffs. Pair that with his ability to seamlessly play alongside stars, and Niang becomes an ideal target for LA. Because he is such a good shooter at the forward position, multiple teams will likely be eyeing his services this summer as a buy-low option to bolster their bench.
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