The focus for the Los Angeles Lakers is on building a roster that could help them be efficient on the offensive front. In light of this, Rob Pelinka and co. have now declined the third-year rookie option for Jalen Hood-Schifino. It’s never easy for management members of an NBA franchise to make decisions that could have a lasting impact on the team. Now, since the action will only make the player an unrestricted free agent in 2025, there is still a lot that he has to give to the Lakers, especially its G-League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers. And the latter is something that one particular LA coach is looking forward to.

The South Bay Lakers will play their season-opening game against Salt Lake City less than two days from now. Therefore, newly recruited head coach Zach Guthrie was the main focus during the G-League franchise’s recent media day. Amid the Q&A session, Guthrie sent his flowers to Jalen Hood-Schifino by stating, “I’ve been unbelievably impressed with Jalen and Maxwell’s leadership. And when I say leadership, I always say that these guys, ‘you got to lead in your authentic way.”

Similarly to coaching, the South Bay Lakers instructor wanted to emphasize that every player has his own personality. Therefore, given his recent snub, the coach wants the player to improve by working on that leadership skill that differentiates him from the others. “You can’t be like someone else, right? Jalen, don’t try to be LeBron. Maxwell, don’t try to be Anthony Davis. Lead in your authentic way,” said Guthrie.

Guthrie’s remarks came around the same time that the man in question, Jalen Hood-Schifino himself, also took some questions during the media day. It didn’t take long for a question regarding the third-year player option snub to come the player’s way. Fortunately, he took the rejection as a lesson he needed to improve himself going forward. “I mean it happened. So I mean, for me, I just got to continue to get better. Lots of opportunity to, you know, get better, learn, you know, playing in G-League, big team, or not, you know, opportunities will be there” said Hood-Schifino. “So, at the end of the day, for me, I just gotta continue to take it day-by-day, and take advantage of, you know, anything that comes my way.”

Coming in as the 17 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Jalen Hood-Schifino carried big expectations with him. Unfortunately, the same couldn’t result in much, as he appeared in only 21 games, started in none, and averaged a mere 1.6 points, 0.6 rebounds, and 0.4 assists. Hood-Schifino certainly did not seem to be worth the 4-year, $17.88 million deal under which the team took him. Therefore, by declining the player option, the Lakers ensure that they have a substantial relaxation on their salary cap, which they can further use to acquire additional players.

While the player’s rookie season may not have gone down as expected, he does possess qualities that make him stand out. When discussing his leadership qualities, observers saw the same when Hood-Schifino received primary playmaking duties after Xavier Johnson’s injury during his tenure at Indiana. According to a report by SB Nation, “His composure in this role not only showcased his readiness to lead but also his ability to maintain control and execute the game plan. He was noted as being calm and unflappable. While he didn’t have any noteworthy last-minute shots, his calm demeanour did lead some to say he could be ‘clutch.’” Along with that, his point guard skills at Indiana were also lauded.

Now, with the Lakers having declined the option, Hood-Schifino has the opportunity to try his luck with other franchises. Fortunately, the player has no shortage of suitors.

Are any franchises looking to acquire Jalen-Hood Schifino?

As long as he remains a player for the Lakers, Jalen Hood-Schifino offers value as a potential draft prospect. Therefore, time is running out quickly for them, and they need to decide quickly if they are to utilize the player before he enters into free agency. If we are to believe Lake Show Life, then the interest in the 21-year-old is certainly “widespread.”

As highlighted by reporter Jake Fischer, at least three teams have indicated an interest. With confidence, Fischer wrote, “Atlanta had interest in him in that talk with Dejounte (Murray) last year. Utah, I believe, has shown interest in him, to my knowledge, in those talks about Walker Kessler. Brooklyn, I’ve been told, is a team that has interest in him. So, just keep an eye on Jalen Hood-Schifino as a potential outgoing salary expiring deal.”

Hood-Schfinio may not have proved much on the offense. With his 6’5″ and 215 pound stature, along with a 6’10.25″ wingspan, however, coaches may explore the player’s defensive upside. This makes him a valuable acquisition, especially for a team with enough salary cap to even match the annual pay he was making with the LA franchise. Whatever Jalen Hood-Schifino’s future path may be, it will be worthwhile to watch for NBA enthusiasts.