The Los Angeles Lakers continue to add up on young talent, this time reportedly coming to terms with another undrafted rookie in Michael Frazier II.
Frazier becomes another possible backcourt option for the Lakers who are now over the roster limit. According to the Los Angeles Times, Frazier signed a two-year deal worth $1.4 million. Only $50,000 is however guaranteed on the first year.
The 6-foot-5 guard played for Florida and held averages of 12.1 points and 1.4 assists per game. Frazier seems to have decent stroke from the outside as well, owning a 48.2 percent shooting from the field and 38 percent from three-point country.
The Frazier deal makes him the 16th player on the Lakers roster. His signing follows a recent deal involving another undrafted player in Jonathan Holmes who played for the Boston Celtics in the Summer League.
Their deals are almost the same only that Holmes is guaranteed a higher $100,000.
Frazier is likely to try out for a spot in the regular roster for the coming season. Like Holmes, that may not be easy to do considering he has Kobe Bryant, Jordan Clarkson, Lou Williams and D’Angelo Russell to contend with.
Even if he doesn’t make the grade, all is not lost for Frazier. Since he is one of the players signed by the Lakers to a minimum deal, Frazier and players who don’t make the regular roster will likely be assigned to the Los Angeles D-Fenders in the NBA D-League.
Should that happen, Frazier will have the chance to hone his skills and be on standby just in case the Lakers would need a player in scenarios where a regular player would have to be replaced due to various reasons (i.e., injury).
From the looks of it, the Lakers are looking at all options on the young talent they can get their hands on. After failing miserably to land any of the top free agents in the market, coach Byron Scott and GM Mitch Kupchak may be looking at future players who they feel show promise. And apparently Holmes and Frazier are among those players.
Will the ploy reap dividend for the Lakers who are seeking to rebound after two disappointing seasons?
All that remains to be seen is that the Lakers seem to have an improved roster compared with the past two seasons where the NBA failed to make a go for the NBA playoffs.