The Los Angeles Lakers have no shortage of former players finding new landing spots or remaining in the free agency hunt. A big piece of why the organization was unable to take full advantage of the LeBron James era was due to an inability to stick with any level of consistency. Whether or not a player was working in the assigned role, there was a great chance a move was going to be made.
This has often haunted the franchise with Alex Caruso serving as the most glaring example. Regardless, there are some pieces where the team has made the right choice to turn the page from, including current free agent Jalen Hood-Schifino.
Lakers Made the Right Decision Parting Ways with Jalen Hood-Schifino
Hood-Schifino was the 17th overall pick in the 2023 draft and expected to at least contribute in a bench role. This would quickly prove to be incorrect, with the young scorer looking overmatched, unable to adjust to the speed of the next level. The Lakers would still continue to give the young guard chances to find a role. A position that quickly ended when Hood-Schifino's contract was needed to help move on from Anthony Davis in the Luka Doncic blockbuster. The guard was sent to Utah and continued to underwhelm.
Utah had nothing to lose by taking a flyer on a player who had fallen out of favor with the Lakers. It made sense for a rebuilding team to see if another landing spot would help unlock his potential. Hood-Schifino responded by being unable to make it on the floor for the organization, which understood it was a lost cause. Waiving the guard, the Jazz looked in other directions in an attempt to find cheap production.
The Lakers had no interest in a reunion as the franchise focused on turning the page to the Luka era. With this in mind, it doesn't come as a surprise that the young guard remains a free agent. It isn't enticing to add a player who cannot make the rotation for a Laker team that lacked depth in the 2024-25 season.
Add in Utah's decision to waive Hood-Schifino shortly after the trade, and the reasons his free agency search continues are clear. It is yet another example of a frustrating draft result when the Lakers have so badly needed depth. With this in mind, it is fair to wonder if this is the end for the former Laker in the NBA.