Los Angeles Lakers' Updated Free-Agency Big Board

The Los Angeles Lakers appear to be taking a measured approach to free agency this summer.

As Mark Medina of the Orange County Register reported, the plan is to "pursue players on one-year deals" to preserve buying power for this time next year.

"We'll be very strategic to keep the cap space in 2018," new general manager Rob Pelinka explained. "We'll be very sacred about that. We worked very hard to get into that position. So we'll be smart in free agency."

Star players expected to be available next summer include LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul and Paul George. The latter was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday; Lakers fans will have to hope that turns out to be nothing more than a one-year rental.

So what about the here and now, especially given that a slew of talent has already been snapped up since the market opened for business?

Let's delve into a list of realistic choices, ordered by potential impact, who could supplement a young roster while targeting specific needs: perimeter shooting, defense and ball-handling.      

6. Gabe York, SG, Erie BayHawks

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Gabe York is a dark horse in this race.

The 6'3" combo guard went undrafted last year out of the University of Arizona. During his breakout senior season, York averaged 15 points while hitting 42.1 percent of his shots from beyond the arc (on 6.9 attempts per game). His collegiate average for three-pointers was 40.2, and he got better each year.

York played for the Erie BayHawks in the D-League this past season, breaking the team record with 10 three-pointers in a game. He competed in the 2017 NBA D-League Three-Point Contest in New Orleans during All-Star Weekend.

There's also the college connection. Lakers head coach Luke Walton has long held an affinity for the basketball program at his alma mater. In fact, three of his assistant coaches are also Wildcats: Jesse Mermuys, Jud Buechler and newly hired Miles Simon.

Buechler will be the head coach for the Lakers' summer-league squad in Las Vegas starting July 7. And guess who will be on the roster? Yep, that sharpshooting undrafted guard.

The 23-year-old has a fast, snappy release on the ball with plenty of arc. He also has quick hands, averaging 1.3 steals per game with the BayHawks. He'll have to be at his very best to advance beyond Vegas.

5. Tyler Ennis, PG, Los Angeles Lakers

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Tyler Ennis joined the Lakers at the February trade deadline. The 22-year-old backup point guard was on an expiring contract and is now a free agent. 

Ennis was the 18th overall pick by the Phoenix Suns in 2014 and was traded midway through his rookie season to Milwaukee Bucks. From there, he went to Houston and then on to L.A. He also put in time with the Bakersfield Jam in the D-League.

The 6'4" guard out of Syracuse has never had a meaningful or consistent role since being drafted. But he plays with effort and maturity, with a solid, low-mistake style. His stats blossomed in Los Angeles, culminating with extended minutes at the end of the season (including two starts). In one of those games, he tallied a career-high 20 points.

According to Medina, Ennis received "continuous support" from Walton and the front office during his short stay. Medina added that the Lakers have expressed interest in Ennis since free agency began.

L.A. needs backcourt depth—No. 2 draft pick Lonzo Ball is the sole true point guard now that D'Angelo Russell is in Brooklyn.

Ennis is a logical choice; he's young, still developing and is coming off a nice audition in Los Angeles.

4. Rajon Rondo, PG, Chicago Bulls

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The mercurial Rajon Rondo has wandered the league since his glory days with the Boston Celtics, putting in stops in Dallas, Sacramento and Chicago.

He's long in the tooth, has a suspect jump shot and doesn't fit the mold of what L.A. is seeking: team-first, versatile athletes with lots of tread left on the tires.

But according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Lakers spoke to Rondo right after free agency opened. 

There was a time during the Kobe Bryant era when Rondo would frequently be bandied about in Lakers trade or free-agent ruminations. But those were different circumstances—a perennial playoff team with different management, different coaches and different goals (certainly not a rebuild mindset).

These days, Rondo's candidacy as a one-year rental seems a little odd. Nonetheless, he's a pass-first point guard with an 8.5-assist career average. He's a guy who still loves to push the ball on the run, and he also still has some defensive skills left.

Is this the best choice to back up and mentor Ball in his rookie season? It's debatable, but Rondo is in the mix regardless.

3. Arron Afflalo, SG, Sacramento Kings

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It would be interesting to see what Walton could do with Arron Afflalo. The 10-year vet is an experienced shooting guard who slides over to the wing a fair amount. He has also been used at the point in a pinch.

Afflalo is coming off a subpar season. He was signed last summer by the Sacramento Kings but was used irregularly by head coach Dave Joerger. At one point, things got so bad that Afflalo reportedly refused to enter a game, per Carmichael Dave of KHTK Sports 1140. 

The team released Afflalo in June.

This doesn't change the fact that the Los Angeles native and UCLA product has had a lot of productive years in the league. He's a crafty mid-range scorer who will use hesitation spin moves before triggering a fall-away jumper. He can also knock it down from the perimeter, hitting 41.1 percent of his three-pointers last season and 38.6 percent over his career.

On the down side, Afflalo can be streaky with his shot. And at 31, while still a decent perimeter defender, he's not always able to stick with his man in the middle of the court.

Afflalo could be a good bargain pickup at this point, but the Lakers won't be offering much.

2. Luke Babbitt, SF, Miami Heat

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Luke Babbitt's seven-year pro career has taken him to three NBA teams, the D-League and Russia. He spent this season with the Miami Heat, starting 55 out of his 68 appearances but only averaging 4.8 points in 15.7 minutes per game.

The 28-year-old plays both forward slots, often functioning as a small-ball 4 and providing valuable floor-spacing with his outside shooting. Babbitt hit 41.4 percent of his three-pointers this season.

He's also someone who accepts his role, as evidenced by remarks from then-coach Monty Williams during Babbitt's time with the New Orleans Pelicans.   

"Luke is just the same guy every day. No matter what," Williams said, per Jimmy Smith of the Times-Picayune in 2015. "He's shooting the ball better and making better decisions off the dribble. But he's just consistent with his work, whether he's starting, not playing or playing off the bench, he's the same guy."

Babbitt is not a superlative defender, but he's no slouch, using his length and ability to switch positions. He's also more than a specialty catch-and-shoot guy; he'll take advantage of a hole to get closer to the basket and even take it to the hoop now and then.

That said, Babbitt can be streaky game to game, and he's not athletic. Still, he could be a useful option, especially if no other teams are willing to throw much money his way.

1. Dion Waiters, SG, Miami Heat

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Dion Waiters has been a heat-seeking missile during his five years in the NBA. He loves shooting the rock, and the Lakers could definitely use another scorer.

Per Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders, Waiters had a meeting in L.A. on Sunday night. Coincidentally, Lakers GM Pelinka used to run Landmark Sports, which represents Waiters.

Waiters could be an interesting replacement for Nick Young—both are guys whose primary focus is scoring the ball. But like Young, Waiters opened up his game last year, putting an emphasis on defense, rebounding and sharing the rock.

The former Syracuse standout averaged 15.8 points, 4.3 assists and 3.3 boards for the Miami Heat, starting 43 of 46 games.

As Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley recently wrote, Waiters has gone through some dark moments, including a time when his mom was shot (and survived) in a case of mistaken identity. A number of other people in Waiters' close circle have not survived.

It has been a comeback season for Waiters, a former No. 4 overall draft pick whose numbers dropped off when he played with the Thunder for two seasons before Miami.

Could he be on the verge of another new beginning with the Lakers?

Stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference.