Lakers Reportedly Interested in Former Draft Bust

The Los Angeles Lakers' season has been a rollercoaster-like experience and not the type that's enjoyable.

After an impressive 10-4 start, the Lakers have plummeted back to earth with a 3-7 record in their last 10 games heading into Friday's clash with the Minnesota Timberwolves. J.J. Redick's roster has been incredibly inconsistent on both sides of the ball and unless anything changes, Los Angeles will likely be a Play-In Tournament team or miss the postseason altogether.

With LeBron James and Anthony Davis unable to carry the team on their own, Lakers fans are looking to general manager Rob Pelinka to find some help for Redick & Co. Based on the latest rumors, Los Angeles could be looking at a former draft bust as a potential reinforcement candidate.

Lakers Reportedly Showing Interest in Markelle Fultz

According to Clutch Points' Anthony Irwin, the Lakers have reportedly been having "internal discussions" regarding a potential deal with free-agent guard Markelle Fultz.

"The Lakers have had internal conversations about Fultz, the former first-overall pick who hasn't lived up to his draft position," Irwin wrote. "Standing 6'4″ with legitimate athleticism, Fultz would provide physicality on the perimeter the Lakers have sorely missed defensively."

"(His) shot is still very much a concern, but in the right lineups, it can be made up for."

Irwin added that it would only cost the Lakers about $3 million to sign Fultz to a veteran contract for the remainder of the NBA season. Even though his career hasn't panned out as planned, that's an affordable price for an experienced depth piece.

Fultz, 26, hasn't lived up to the hype that came when the Philadelphia 76ers drafted him first overall in 2017. He failed to average double-digit points in his two seasons with the 76ers, which only stung more given that the likes of Jayson Tatum, Lauri Markkanen, and De'Aaron Fox were all drafted after him.

After his time in Philly ran out, Fultz was traded to the Orlando Magic in February 2019. Although his first few seasons in Orlando were up and down, the veteran guard put things together in the 2022-23 campaign when he averaged career highs in points (14.0), assists (5.7), rebounds (3.9), and field-goal percentage (51.4%).

Fultz's production declined in 2023-24 when he was limited to a bench role, but it's clear that he still has enough juice left in the tank to contribute somewhere. Irwin floated around the idea that the former Washington product could serve as the Lakers' backup point guard if they choose to trade Gabe Vincent and/or D'Angelo Russell before the deadline.

Considering how he isn't commanding much attention outside of L.A., it looks like the Lakers are the only team with legitimate interest in Fultz. With that being said, they should try to sign him as soon as possible if they truly believe he can help the team get out of its current rut.

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