23-year-old Stretch Five Remains Among Top Free Agents Available

In this modern chapter of basketball that we are in, it feels like the top players are only getting taller and more versatile. The Los Angeles Lakers opted to trade up in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft to land a 6'7, do-it-all wing in Maxwell Lewis and he has already been given a four-year deal with two seasons on the purple and gold guaranteed.

And looking all the way at the number one pick in the draft, there hasn't been a prospect quite like Victor Wembanyama ever and if he pans out, he truly will redefine the positions in basketball as a whole. That takes us back to the Lakers and their final goal in free agency: Bringing in another big man! Jaxson Hayes has plenty of potential and his defensive potential has been compared to the likes of a young Dwight Howard but he is very limited on the offensive end.

Christian Wood seems to be the top target for LA as after a season with the Dallas Mavericks that saw him average 16 points and seven assists, he remains without a set roster spot on any squad and the Lakers have been heavily drawn to him. Bismack Biyombo is also an intriguing option as he has been on a number of teams and brings a lot of value defensively.

But let's say that both of those veterans sign with contenders elsewhere... where do the Lakers go from there? One interesting option that would be a risk is none other than 23-year-old Darius Bazley who has been in the NBA for five seasons and hasn't found his role just yet despite standing at 6'9 and possessing a skillset that allows him to create his own offense.

Bleacher Report has him listed as one of the best players still on the market.

"Over his first three seasons in the league, he was overly reliant on a three-point shot that was not doing him many favors. During that stretch, 42.0percent of all of his shot attempts were threes, but he only made 30.5 percent of those attempts.In 2022-23, that three-point-attempt rate dropped to 29.0, and he played approximately 84 percent of his minutes as a center.As a small-ball 5, Bazley can use his quickness and athleticism to outmaneuver burlier big men.This could be a feasible path forward to a steady role for a good team."

(Via Bleacher Report)

Let's see if LA takes a shot on him!