With the Los Angeles Lakers being granted a disabled player exception after the season-ending injury to rookie Julius Randle, the team has been checking out a couple of free agents to potentially add to the team.
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So far, the team has been rumored to bringing in Quincy Miller for an audition, and will workout veteran Tyrus Thomas this week. Now, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein, the Lakers will audition former Dallas Mavericks point guard Gal Mekel:
ESPN sources say Lakers bringing in Israeli PG Gal Mekel for audition this week. Which makes sense given how much Lakers need a shot-creator
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) November 19, 2014
Mekel isn’t the only point guard they have their eye on as Stein also reports that the team is looking at Dwight Buycks:
Another PG Lakers are looking at, according to my man @IAmDPick, is Dwight Buycks, who got the call after John Lucas passed to go to China
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) November 19, 2014
Both players have had limited chances to show what they can do at the NBA level. Mekel, more of a scorer, played in only 31 games for the Dallas Mavericks last season. Buycks, who has bounced around a couple of teams, played in just 14 games for the Toronto Raptors.
The Lakers seem to be checking out potential additions at numerous positions which makes sense, and the point guard spot could use some help. Jeremy Lin has been up-and-down so far this year while Ronnie Price has been solid defensively, but terrible offensively shooting just over 25 percent from the field.
The Lakers, however, would have to waive someone in order to make a signing. The contracts of Wayne Ellington and Ronnie Price are only partially guaranteed, but other reports have suggested Xavier Henry could be waived if the team makes a move.
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