The Los Angeles Lakers lost out again on Reggie Jackson, although it appears they were not really inclined to bid for the 29-year-old guard's services. This is even though the Lakers have made it known they are looking to add a playmaker.
With Jackson now joining the Los Angeles Clippers, there are reports that the Lakers are targeting someone else. He is no other than Maurice Harkless, ironically a former Clipper who ended up with the New York Knicks following the Marcus Morris trade.
It was Sam Amick of The Athletic who claimed that the Lakers were interested in getting the 6-foot-7 forward. While it does go against what LA was originally looking for, adding Harkless makes a bit of sense. He can defend players playing the 1 to 4 spots and can hit it well from the three-point region. He could be a worthy backup to LeBron James at small forward when needed.
However, the Lakers should be aware that getting Harkless is a short-term investment. The 26-year-old is set to become a free agent this summer and will likely command higher pay. If he does end up with the Lakers, an NBA title could convince him to stay. This is assuming that the Lakers have the money to offer him if they do go on to win it all this 2019-20 season.
Before going that far, there is a precedent to all of it. The Knicks still hold the rights to Harkless, although New York is willing to buy him out if he requests for one, the New York Post reported. So far, nothing has gone down. But if Harkless wants to join a contender and get a chance to win an NBA title, there is a big possibility he could push for a buyout and possibly join the purple and gold.
The best the Lakers can offer Harkless is a $1.75 million disabled player exception for now. It could be a sacrifice on his end for the chance to become an NBA champion. If he sees it a plausible route, something should go down in the coming days. However, it remains that the Lakers were not able to add a point guard heading into the playoffs. That said, James is likely to assume playmaking duties, hoping that other Lakers will respond with the added offense and tougher defense for the remainder of the 2019-20 season to help him and Anthony Davis win a much-coveted NBA title.
