The Los Angeles Lakers have constructed a team that could always use more shooting.
With creators like LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, floor spacing is paramount.
They don't have to look too far for the guy they should target. Keon Ellis of the Sacramento Kings would make the Lakers better.
That's what ESPN's Kevin Pelton pitched in a new article on Tuesday.
"If I ran the Lakers, I would be calling the Sacramento Kings daily about guard Keon Ellis, who has been in and out of coach Doug Christie's crowded backcourt rotation after averaging 24.4 minutes last season," Pelton writes. "Ellis is a career 41.6% 3-point shooter who excels at defending on the ball. Perhaps most importantly, he's making the minimum in the last season of his rookie contract. Not only would Ellis easily fit into the Lakers' cap sheet now -- and give them the ability to address the frontcourt using other expiring contracts -- his tiny cap hold would help maximize their flexibility this summer."
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It's pretty bizarre that the Kings can't find a way to use Ellis, who is one of the league's most underrated 3-and-D players.
The Lakers would gladly take him off their hands, though.
The fact that Ellis isn't even playing a ton should lower his trade cost considerably. The Lakers could end up with a pivotal rotation player for not a whole ton of value in return.
Sacramento could choose to play hardball on a deal, but the Kings often seem to have bizarre priorities. This could be the Lakers' ideal time to pounce.
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