Of course. Here is a comprehensive summary of the news article, formatted as requested. ### **Summary of "Bucks just gifted Lakers perfect opportunity to undo Scotty Pippen Jr. mistake"** **News Metadata** * **Article Title:** Bucks just gifted Lakers perfect opportunity to undo Scotty Pippen Jr. mistake * **Publisher:** FanSided (lakeshowlife.com) * **Author:** Maxwell Ogden * **Publication Date:** July 1, 2025 * **Note on Timeframe:** The article and its sources are dated in the future (July 2025) and present a speculative scenario based on player developments during the hypothetical 2024-25 NBA season. --- ### **Executive Summary** This opinion piece from FanSided argues that the Los Angeles Lakers have been "gifted" a chance to rectify their past mistake of losing guard Scotty Pippen Jr. by signing Ryan Rollins. The Milwaukee Bucks unexpectedly made Rollins an unrestricted free agent by rescinding his qualifying offer. The author posits that Rollins, a 22-year-old guard, showed significant improvement and two-way potential during the 2024-25 season, mirroring the development trajectory of Pippen Jr. The article strongly recommends that the Lakers proactively sign Rollins on a low-cost deal, viewing him as an ideal backup point guard and a potential long-term replacement for Gabe Vincent. --- ### **Key Findings and Recommendations** #### **1. The Opportunity: Ryan Rollins Becomes a Free Agent** The central news event is that the Milwaukee Bucks have rescinded the qualifying offer for guard Ryan Rollins, making him an unrestricted free agent. This information is attributed to a tweet from league insider Chris Haynes, dated July 1, 2025. This move is framed as an "unexpected gift" to the Lakers. #### **2. The Context: The "Scotty Pippen Jr. Mistake"** The article establishes a narrative around the Lakers' recent player development history: * **Success Stories:** The Lakers have a strong track record of developing undrafted talent, citing the success of **Alex Caruso** and **Austin Reaves**. * **The "Mistake":** They failed to retain **Scotty Pippen Jr.**, an undrafted free agent they developed in the G League. The Memphis Grizzlies signed him, and he has since become a key contributor for them. * **Pippen Jr.'s Performance in Memphis:** To quantify the loss, his stats are provided: * **Points:** 10.5 per game * **Assists:** 4.5 per game * **Rebounds:** 3.3 per game * **Steals:** 1.4 per game * **Three-Pointers:** 1.2 per game #### **3. The Case for Ryan Rollins** Rollins is presented as the ideal candidate to fill the void left by Pippen Jr. and become the Lakers' next developmental success story. His performance in the hypothetical 2024-25 season is highlighted as evidence of his potential. **Key Statistics and Performance Metrics (2024-25 Season):** * **Overall:** Played a career-high 56 games, with 19 starts for Milwaukee. * **Strong Finish (Final 13 Games):** The article emphasizes a late-season surge as a sign of his improvement. * **Averages:** 10.8 points, 3.9 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.7 three-pointers. * **Minutes:** Achieved in just 24.4 minutes per game. * **Scoring Comparison:** Rollins scored 10+ points in 15 games, only two fewer than Lakers guard Gabe Vincent, who played an average of 6.6 more minutes per game. * **Per-36 Minute Projections:** To illustrate his potential with more playing time, his projected per-36 minute averages are provided: * **Points:** 15.3 * **Rebounds:** 4.7 * **Assists:** 4.6 * **Steals:** 1.8 * **Blocks:** 0.7 * **Three-Pointers:** 2.2 * **Shooting Splits:** .487 (Field Goal %), .408 (3-Point %), .800 (Free Throw %) #### **4. Strategic Fit and Recommendation** The article concludes with a strong recommendation for the Lakers to pursue Rollins. * **Recommendation:** The Lakers "should be proactive" in signing Rollins. * **Potential Role:** He could serve as a backup point guard and develop into an ideal replacement for **Gabe Vincent**, who is 29 and entering the final year of his contract. * **Player Profile:** Rollins is described as a "competitive young player with intriguing two-way potential" and a "malleable talent" who would fit well in new coach **JJ Redick's** player development system. --- ### **Risks and Financial Considerations** * **Risk:** The author acknowledges that the impressive statistics are from a **"small sample size"** (the final 13 games of the season) and may not be sustainable. * **Financials:** * The Lakers should aim to sign him on a **"low-cost deal."** * However, the market for Rollins "could be somewhat competitive," potentially driving his salary **"slightly above the veteran minimum."**
Bucks just gifted Lakers perfect opportunity to undo Scotty Pippen Jr. mistake
Read original at FanSided →The Los Angeles Lakers have become one of the best teams in the NBA at scouting talent in the most unlikely of places. Los Angeles has made a habit out of utilizing the undrafted free agent pool to bring in players with untapped potential they appear to be uniquely qualified to develop.Unfortunately, for as remarkable as the success of Alex Caruso and Austin Reaves was and is, there's a Scotty Pippen Jr.
sized hole in the rotation.Pippen signed with the Lakers as an undrafted free agent and spent two seasons with their G League affiliate. Unfortunately, the Memphis Grizzlies were quicker to lock him up long-term and have since been direct beneficiaries of his meteoric rise to prominence.Thankfully for Los Angeles, the Milwaukee Bucks have provided an unexpected gift in a player who could become the next Pippen: Ryan Rollins.
Milwaukee Bucks are rescinding the qualifying offer of promising young guard Ryan Rollins and he will now become an unrestricted free agent, league sources tell me. pic.twitter.com/0U89YAiLcV— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 1, 2025After having to watch Pippen average 10.5 points, 4.5 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 1.
4 steals, and 1.2 three-point field goals made in Memphis, Los Angeles might have his long-awaited replacement.Ryan Rollins could be the next Scotty Pippen Jr. for the LakersRollins, 22, showed remarkable signs of improvement with Milwaukee in 2024-25. He played a career-high 56 games in the NBA, starting 19, and quietly emerged as a well-rounded contributor capable of stuffing the stat sheet.
That includes his final 13 appearances in 2024-25, during which he averaged 10.8 points, 3.9 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.7 three-point field goals made in just 24.4 minutes per game.A small sample size isn't enough to justify a large contract, but it does give Los Angeles reason to explore his potential on a low-cost deal.
Rollins is a competitive young player with intriguing two-way potential and a growing list of quality NBA performances.In 2024-25, he scored at least 10 points in 15 different games—only two fewer than Gabe Vincent, who averaged 6.6 more minutes per contest.The market for Rollins could be somewhat competitive, thus driving his salary slightly above the veteran minimum.
If the Lakers can sign him for cheap, however, they'd be bringing in a backup point guard who could develop into Vincent's ideal replacement.Vincent provides significant two-way value as a 3-and-D guard, of course, but the 29-year-old is entering the final season of his current deal.As such, the Lakers should be proactive in their attempts to sign a player who has shown promise similar to what Pippen brings to the table.
Rollins offers value in every phase of the game and is young enough to be a malleable talent in JJ Redick's player development system.Per-36 averages of 15.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.7 blocks, and 2.2 three-point field goals on .487/.408/.800 shooting may only scratch the surface of the type of player Rollins could become.