Despite ending 2024 with a loss to the league-leading Cavaliers, the Lakers have a lot to look forward to in the new year, especially with the recent additions of Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton. The latter was perceived as a “throw-in” compared to the team’s need for wing depth, but Milton can serve as a key part of the Lakers’ bench going forward, especially as another guard recovers from injury.
How the Newest Lakers Guard Can Help Sooner Than Later
Background
Milton, the 54th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, has grown into a reliable bench contributor. His best season came in 2020-21, when he averaged 13 points and three assists per game on .450/.350/.830 splits—numbers that put him in the conversation for 6th Man of the Year. Since then, however, he journeyed across the league, spending last season with the Timberwolves, Pistons, and Knicks before heading to the Nets in an offseason trade. After a solid 27-game campaign for a lottery-bound team, Milton returns to the franchise that gave him his first pre-draft workout.
In his Laker introduction, Milton touched on what he can bring to the table:
“Just trying to be myself. Be versatile, be a playmaker, knock down 3s, guard the ball. Just kind of be like a presence, especially in that second unit. Getting guys in the right spot and just being myself.”
The 28-year-old was decent in his purple and gold debut. He finished with six points on 2/4 attempts from beyond the arc, as well as two rebounds.
Milton’s Playmaking Could be Pivotal
Milton has shown he can put points on the board, having dropped double-digits in seven of his final ten games with Brooklyn, including a 20-point performance against the Bucks the day after Christmas. Although he helps the Lakers’ shooting and defense, Milton can also make an immediate impact as a facilitator for the second unit.
Milton has experience playing out of position. In his final game as a Net, he dished a season-high 12 assists against the Spurs on Dec. 27 (to go along with 16 points). He has also had experience as a lead guard with the 76ers, filling the role when James Harden and Tyrese Maxey were injured in Nov. 2022. Milton says he expects playmaking to factor into his role as a Laker, part of the versatile skill set he offers.
“I definitely do. whether it’s me being on the ball, attacking the paint, creating for myself, creating for others, or whether it’s me spotting up and shooting 3s. I think I’m gonna be able to do whatever the team needs me to do and I think that will be one of my strong suits, especially coming in that second unit and being able to get guys open shots or playing with Gabe or any of those guys.”
Fans can’t expect Milton to record double-digit dimes every game, but his passing can play an integral role in his contributions to the Lakers bench. The team needs to fill in gaps left by D’Angelo Russell. With Austin Reaves unlocking a new level as a starting point guard and Gabe Vincent sidelined with an oblique injury, Milton will need to step up as a playmaker for the time being. Some speculated he could be Brooklyn’s backup point guard after that 12-assist outing. But now, he has an opportunity to fill that role for the Lakers—even if it’s just in spurts.
Shake Milton had 12 assists his last game for the Nets.
About 7 of those assists were fraudulent lol (pass to a dude who takes 4 dribbles into a layup fraudulent).
So he’s def not a Point Guard.
But he can at least handle the ball & organize/facilitate in a pinch. pic.twitter.com/fnwlLlGzAg
— Lakers Legacy (@LakersLegacyPod) December 29, 2024
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Vincent in Trade Rumors Adds to Milton’s Importance
The case for Shake Milton as a point guard is reasonable in the short term, but that could change if the Lakers make more upgrades. HoopsHype Mike Scotto wrote that the Lakers are continuing to include Vincent in trade talks for a backup big man.
“Having acquired the wing defender they sought in Finney-Smith, the next item for the Lakers on their list is a backup center. The Lakers will continue to try and acquire Wizards center Jonas Valanciunas or another backup center on the trade market with their remaining future second-round draft capital, and Gabe Vincent is expected to be dangled in talks as well, league sources told HoopsHype.”
If Vincent is traded, that would leave the Lakers with two rotational point guards in Milton and Reaves, forcing them to bear the brunt of playmaking duties next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis (unless the team also went out and replenished the guard depth). However, it’s important to remember those possibilities may not happen until closer to the February trade deadline, given the team’s desire to evaluate the new-look roster.
For now, the focus around Milton should stay on his fit as a scorer and occasional play connector. He has showcased his versatility in a variety of situations, and he’ll have more opportunities to do so with the Lakers’ upgraded supporting cast around LeBron and AD.
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