4 Free Agents the Lakers Should Sign for the Veteran Minimum

Robert Covington, PF

Another aging veteran who could still contribute in limited minutes is Robert Covington. The 33-year-old power forward spent the last season with the Philadelphia 76ers after being traded there as part of the James Harden trade from the Clippers. Before then, he was an integral part of the Clippers with his two-way ability. He has a rare combination of hitting three-pointers while protecting the rim and providing elite help defense.

At his best, Covington is one of the best three-and-D bigs in the NBA. He can guard multiple positions and even play center in small-ball lineups. He provides intriguing versatility to the teams he is on. That would be the same with the Lakers as well.

A frontcourt of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Covington has a ton of size, athleticism, and defensive chops. It is an offensively-limited group but if Covington makes enough three-pointers, JJ Redick can make it work.

Covington will turn 34 during the 2024-25 season. At this point in his career, he can't play that many minutes but he can still be a contributor off the bench. Last season, he appeared in 29 games, starting in six, and averaged 4.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 0.6 blocks in 16.8 minutes per game. That is not going to change the fate of your franchise but that level of defensive impact is always appreciated.