The Lakers officially announced they have re-signed point guard Marcelo Huertas. From their press release:
“Marcelo’s understanding of the game, unselfishness, and professionalism are assets to our team and he has an uncanny ability to change the pace of the game,” said Kupchak. “He’s fundamentally solid but also has a flair and excitement to his style of play, which makes him a fan favorite.”
In his first NBA season with the Lakers last year after playing professionally in Brazil, Spain, and Italy since 2001, Huertas averaged a team-best 3.4 assists per game in addition to 4.5 points and 1.7 rebounds over 53 games. Prior to coming stateside, he spent the previous four seasons (2011-15) with Spanish power FC Barcelona, where he was a key piece on their 2011-12 and 2013-14 Spanish National Championship and 2013 Spanish National Cup-winning teams. He also has 165 games of Euroleague experience, and was the 2013-14 Euroleague Top 16 Round Two MVP.
While the Lakers did not announce the terms of the deal, the contract is believed to be worth $3.3 million over two season with the 2nd year non-guaranteed.
As we wrote when this deal was originally reported, it’s hard to project Huertas into the lineup should the team’s rotations play out as are currently expected. With as many as 4 players besides Huertas (Russell, Calderon, Clarkson, Williams) who can play point guard for at least short stretches, projecting where he finds minutes is not easy. All of those players bring more well rounded offensive games to the table than Huertas, especially as shooters and scorers.
That said, Huertas is probably the best pure passer of that group and on a team which needs more ball movement and players who know how to make plays for teammates on the floor, Huertas has potential to be a value add offensively. As noted in the team’s press release he led the team in assists and truly does offer dynamic passing skill. When operating in the P&R he can make every read and execute every pass — pocket bounce passes, lob, same side kickouts, next level skip passes, everything.
So, it will be interesting to me how Luke Walton handles Huertas. Should Russell end up more comfortable as a scoring option, pairing him with Huertas for short stretches could unlock that ability even more. Huertas is also a natural pair with Clarkson and, in time, I think would establish good chemistry with Randle, Nance, and Ingram. Whether he gets that chance, however, remains to be seen.
stats2 says
I’ll take the bait and make the first comment. I figure the other posters are trying to get over the disappointing 7 -5 loss of the US to Croatia in Men’s Water Polo. If you didn’t see it, I hope you’ll check in; there are lots of SoCal men and women representing the US in what has been called the toughest sport in the world.
as for Huertas: agree with Dario that playing time may be tough for him, but I love this signing. Other than the occasional Big game from DAR, to me Huertas brought the most joy to the game during last year’s abysmal season. I loved watching him, and it was obvious his teammates loved playing with him. Let’s face it: he wouldn’t be on the roster of a championship team, but in the meantime he gives us some passing and a change of pace, if he ever gets off the pine.
Travis Y says
I enjoyed watching Huertas play last season for his passing flair and understanding of the game.
However, considering we have Calderon it almost makes Huertas obsolete.
I would much rather us looking to the D league and find a young defensive minded bulldog defender who can harass opposing point guards with full court pressure.
This is an area we are sorely lacking and would have cost us less.
For anyone following the D league, who would fit this mold?
adamv37 says
I’m happy to see Huertas back for another year but I’m sure we can all agree that he doesn’t fill a need for the Lakers current roster. His veteran leadership will be useful but he won’t see many minutes on the court. My guess is the FO is still working on trades involving Nick Young, Lou Williams, and/or possibly flipping Calderon again. No clue what any trades would bring us back but we are definitely in need of a solid defender in the backcourt.
bleedpurplegold says
Huertas avareged 7.6 ast. Per 36 in his first season playing for a more or less crappy team, not too shabby for his first nba season….furthermore, i think d-russ played his best ball when paired with marcelo
@stats2: i can definately agree with you on that water polo thing. I tried it out once when i was younger and thought i was in good shape, but cramped up after 15 minutes xD
Vasheed says
I think it is one part rewarding Huertas and another part indicating they would consider flipping Calderon.
J C hoops says
Vasheed
I also think having an extra PG is a sign of the FO remembering when Nash went down and they were struggling all season. No matter the depth chart on paper, if one of our other PGs go down, Huertas comes that much closer to the rotation.
Alexander_ says
Vasheed Calderon’s offense is very similar to Lou, but statistically better across the board, and can create for others as well. Young is a similar player to Lou. All three suck on D. Young and Lou have a problem with DAR. Priority must be to exit Lou and/or Swaggy for some semblance of value or cap relief.
fern16 says
Well, glad Huertas is back, not much more to add. Dog days of summer…
Vasheed says
J C hoops Vasheed
The Lakers have no shortage of guys who can play PG. Russell, Clarkson, Calderon, Williams, and now also Huertas. I think Huertas is a fine 3rd PG but, on the other hand the Lakers weren’t without options if one of their players got hurt.
Vasheed says
Alexander_ Vasheed
I think most people believe Young needs to go. The question is can you get rid of him in a trade or do you have to bite the bullet? I would also like to get rid of Lou. However, he is 5 years younger than Calderon, has 2 years left on his contract, while not a good defender probably still better than Calderon, and you cannot discount Lou’s ability to draw fouls when reading statistics (Or rather you need to read FTA as well as percentages). He is a far better offensive player because he gets essentially free points added to his totals and places the other team in foul trouble. Simply put Lou is a more valuable trade chip. Calderon though is easier to flip because he is on an expiring contract.
Vasheed says
Travis Y
Josh Magette, he is a pesky defender and great play maker. So why isn’t he in the NBA you ask? Basically he looks like a waterboy.
http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2016/3/20/11272684/la-d-fenders-josh-magette-la-lakers
Clay Bertrand says
He had the best hair on the team hands down before he cut it. Very throwbackish…….. sorta like this Luke guy from General Hospital back in the day……..(my babysitter made us watch that crap back in the day…….) I can’t believe the chicks used to dig this look:
h david says
Clay Bertrand ; those chicks are now hens….and yes, dog days for sure. thanks for sharing.
Go lakers
allaninla says
He’s on the team to show the other lakers point guards how to get teammates involved. When Huertas is running the point, the other four players on the court are involved because they know that at any moment Huertas can/will pass them the ball… whereas when others are running point, the other four players are lulled to sleep. In the case of DAR, he will give up the dribble to make a hot-dog pass that is either unexpected, or off the mark, which often leads to a TO (exacerbating his Asst/TO ratio). DAR, Williams, Clarkson = no offensive movement. Huertas = ball movement, which is what Walton wants to see. Williams is a scorer, so having him as a point guard possibility is a waste. I am guessing Calderon is a good ball-movement PG, too, but hard to know how he fits in with the current players. Huertas does fit, as he showed last season, as he is a player that gets the players more engaged on both ends just at the mere thought of being involved in the play making.
The kids still have a long way to go until they acquire a sense of getting others involved. As young players go, they are still trying to prove that they belong, and it always seems to take them forever to learn team basketball.
Clay Bertrand says
h david Clay Bertrand
Hens?? Is that what they call OLD COUGARS????!!?!?!?!?!?! ; )
lol
Go Lakers
h david says
Clay Bertrand; no doubt. looking back at that pic you posted; what a difference 30 years or so makes for sure.
KevTheBold says
Seems like when some of us are anxious for news of an important signing, {Ingram or Black} a stretch or trade, {Nick or Lou ~please}, a wave bye bye, {Kelly & Sacre – hit the road Jack !},.. the Lakers roll out, imo the most innocuous news they could, a signing of Huertas: Best friend of opposing team’s offense.
I wonder if they are massaging the anticipation vines to garner clicks, squeezing the dollar til the eagle hollers, or working on something interesting?
FredP says
allaninla During summer league, Russell did an excellent job of keeping his head up and looking for plays. He just needs reps with the other young players in an NBA offense instead of whatever the Lakers were running the past couple of years. Ingram too was looking to make plays as was Nance. The youth have a lot of promise and the coaches to help them realize it.
KevTheBold says
FredP allaninla
Agree Fred.
Last season with Scott, has no resemblance to this new one. As you said, even in summer league, there was a marked difference.
allaninla says
FredP allaninla sure. i’ll buy that. the only issue is that summer league is not the same competition level as the regular season. he did improve in the summer league, but for a PG, his assists aren’t where i’d like them to be. DAR is going to improve, especially under Luke, but it isn’t going to be night and day improvement from last year. it’s gonna take a few years to realize he doesn’t need to make the dazzling pass/play as often as he needs to make the effective one.
I do like ingram… enough to consider getting a jersey now.
KevTheBold says
allaninla
I think you are being too firm and dire in your assessments.
In summer league, his goal going in, was to dominate, and he did just that.
As for assists in the season, once we have solid shooting team round, expect his numbers to rise dramatically, as he does have amazing passing talent.
Speaking of assists, there is, I hope change coming in the rules of assists, which only require the catch, not the making of the basket, which is not the fault of the passer.
CHearn says
Where’s the defense?
LakeshowLoading... says
Marcelo is a net positive: experience, vision, leadership.