Topic: With very few players under guaranteed contracts next year, we wonder which three Los Angeles Lakers you believe the team should bring back next season.
Context: With theLakers having no chance at making the playoffs this year, most thoughts are going towards next season and what the team can do to improve when that begins. The draft and free agency are the major focuses, but the Lakers are sure to bring back some players from this year’s team as well.
Only Kobe Bryant, Julius Randle, Nick Young and Ryan Kelly have guaranteed contracts next season, so the Lakers will have a lot of decisions to make regarding a lot of players.
Ed Davis has already said that he will opt-out of his contract at the end of the year, and Jordan Hill has a team option as well. Jordan Clarkson, Tarik Black and Robert Sacre all have non-guaranteed contracts, so the Lakers could cut ties with any of them if they chose to as well.
Jeremy Lin, Carlos Boozer, Wayne Ellington, Ronnie Price and Wesley Johnson are all unrestricted free agents and each player has had some good moments and bad moments this year that makes it interesting to see who the Lakers will try and bring back.
But which guys should the Lakers bring back?
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Verdict: We went to Twitter to ask the loyal Lakers Nation followers which three Lakers they would most like the Lakers to bring back next season? These are some of the responses:
@TheeCoreyH Clarkson and Ellington for sure, and between David and Hill the one that proves to be more consistent from now on! #LNDebate
— Juan Diego (@JuanDiegoVR) February 28, 2015
@TheeCoreyH if I had to pick 3, I'd say Clarkson, Ellington, Davis #LNDebate
— Rambinho (@Al_RamBro) February 28, 2015
I would say Ed Davis, Carlos Boozer, and Jordan Clarkson.Davis plays D, Boozer is a great veteran, and Clarkson is showing promise.#LNDebate
— Sam Vijeh (@samv7oh) February 28, 2015
@TheeCoreyH Clarkson, Ed & Hill, love the way Ellington competes though #LNDebate
— Steve Rogers (@JClarkDaFuture) February 28, 2015
@TheeCoreyH @LakersNation Davis Clarkson and Ellington. Everyone else can go #LNDebate
— Thug (@Phade2Black_10) February 28, 2015
@TheeCoreyH @LakersNation Clarkson, And Davis are the two that really stick out. We need to upgrade the sf position big time though.
— Kobe Zealot (@LakersNetwork) February 28, 2015
The fans have spoken and most are in agreement on two players for sure. Nearly everyone wanted the backcourt duo of Jordan Clarkson and Wayne Ellington back next season. The third person was a little more close as both Jordan Hill and Ed Davis got a lot of love from the fans.
Clarkson is pretty much a lock to be back. His contract is non-guaranteed, but the team would be crazy to cut ties with him at this point. Ellington has also played very well and if he can be brought back for cheap, would be an excellent bench player who is always ready to play when his number is called.
The third player I would choose is Ed Davis. He is very consistent, excellent on the boards, a good defensive presence and plays hard every night. He may not be a starter, but as a big coming off the bench, he would be perfect to have around when the Lakers start building up the rest of the roster.
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