With the Los Angeles Lakers struggling so much last season, the team began searching all through its roster for a bit of a spark. One of the most unexpected came from rookie Brazilian point guard Marcelo Huertas.
Huertas’ outstanding court vision and passing ability made him a fan favorite, while his defensive struggles also made him a favorite of the blooper reels. Nonetheless Huertas showed he had the skill to play in the NBA after years of starring overseas.
It was reported in July that Huertas would re-sign with the Lakers, but the team finally made it official as General Manager Mitch Kupchak announced the signing via Lakers.com:
The Los Angeles Lakers have signed point guard Marcelo Huertas, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.
It was previously reported that Huertas’ deal with the Lakers was a two-year contract. Kupchak was extremely complimentary of the 33 year old:
“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.”
Huertas’ presence on the court always seemed to spark a un for the Lakers. When he was on the floor his teammates always moved around more as they knew Huertas would get them the ball. As such he led the team in assists at 3.4 per game despite averaging only 16 minutes a night.
The Lakers also brought in Jose Calderon this off-season so those two will likely be battling for backup minutes behind D’Angelo Russell. While Calderon is a more reliable shooter, Huertas is a slightly better passer.
The Lakers had held off on signing Huertas, Brandon Ingram, and Tarik Black in order to preserve some salary cap space in case a beneficial trade presented itself, but now that Huertas has signed it would seem to signal that Ingram and Black won’t be far behind.
