4 Free Agents the Lakers Can Target to Replace D'Angelo Russell Following Latest Contract Rumor
By Cem Yolbulan
3. Tyus Jones
This is a different type of player from Melton and Caldwell-Pope. Tyus Jones is a pure point guard who is adept at setting the table for his teammates on the offensive end.
Similar to Russell, Jones also has his defensive shortcomings. He is undersized at 6'1. He is not strong enough to guard multiple positions, and he doesn't have the length or athleticism to be a solid perimeter defender.
However, he is one of the most underrated point guards in the league. Jones has been a very good floor general throughout his career, consistently leading the league in assist-to-turnover ratio. Even on the extremely limited Wizards team last season, he averaged 7.3 assists to only one turnover per game.
On top of his playmaking, he is an efficient scorer, having finished the 2023-24 campaign averaging 12 points per game on 48.9% from the field and 41.4% from three. He will not change the fate of your franchise, but he is an excellent caretaker and will almost certainly make the Lakers' offense look much more organized.
Plus, he will come cheaper than some of the names on this list. He doesn't have the long-standing reputation as a starter and he was understandably forgotten in Washington last season. He should be gettable for the Lakers.