• The Los Angeles Lakers have reformed their roster this summer
• With multiple additions this offseason, the Lakers have filled out their team with young free agents
• How deep does the roster go and will it help them return to the mountaintop?
The Los Angeles Lakers are looking to return to the top of the NBA after a few seasons in the wilderness. A late-season trade brought the Lakers back into contention with the best teams in the NBA, making an unlikely Western Conference Finals run. They have loaded up this summer, wanting to maximize their window with LeBron James and Anthony Davis without falling back into their old ways of hunting for stars.
With a refreshing summer full of changes, the Lakers look ready to challenge the NBA. Let’s analyze the depth that the Lakers have at each position and how their roster bodes ahead of the 2023-24 season.
Point Guards
D’Angelo Russell, Gabe Vincent, Jalen Hood-Schilfino, Scotty Pippen Jr.
The Lakers have been trying to find a permanent solution to their point guard problems since they put the LeBron James-Anthony Davis duo together in 2019. While they initially rotated through options like Rajon Rondo and Avery Bradley, they ultimately chose Russell Westbrook to be a long-term solution that didn’t pay off. They swapped out Westbrook for D’Angelo Russell, who is back on the team for this season after re-signing this summer.
Russell ended the playoffs averaging 13.3 points, 4.6 assists, and 2.9 rebounds in a very disappointing performance, but the Lakers trust him enough to arguably be their starting point guard in this win-it-all season. Thankfully, he has trusted deputies around him who could even take his spot if his performances are disappointing.
Gabe Vincent is coming off a Finals run where he averaged 12.7 points, 3.5 assists, and 1.4 rebounds over the playoffs. He had some big performances and is a perfectly good replacement for Dennis Schroder. Jalen Hood-Schifino has some development to do before he can be a rotational member. Scotty Pippen Jr. is on an Exhibit contract and will have to fight for a roster spot during training camp.
Shooting Guards
Austin Reaves, Cam Reddish, Max Christie, Bryce Hamilton
The Lakers will finally have a season with Austin Reaves as their starting two-guard after coming off the bench for most of last season. His rapid offensive development will be crucial for the Lakers, as he averaged 21.3 points, 5.3 assists, and 3.5 rebounds in the Western Conference Finals. It’ll be exciting to see whether he can be the tertiary option behind LeBron and AD for the Lakers this season.
The Lakers have two very interesting players that can provide different playing styles behind Reaves. The first is former prospect Cam Reddish, who has struggled to find a home in the NBA so far. He will be hoping for his breakout season to finally come this year, as he can provide solid two-way versatility for the Lakers.
Max Christie is a homegrown prospect who showed really promising flashes last season. A rotational role this season may be a bridge too far, but he will be a dependable option for the Lakers if any injury crisis hits the swingman positions. Bryce Hamilton will have to earn a spot during training camp.
Small Forwards
LeBron James, Taurean Prince, Maxwell Lewis, D’Moi Hodge
The Lakers have one of the most intriguing forward rotations in the NBA and it starts with their small forwards. LeBron James is a positional fit all over the court and will likely play multiple positions. He averaged 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists last season and became the all-time scoring leader.
Due to the versatility of James, the Lakers will need players to keep filling in at the three. They also need bodies at the position due to James’ inconsistent availability, and Taurean Prince is a great option. He is a solid perimeter defender and can stretch the floor, averaging 9.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists on 38.1% shooting from the three last season. Most of their shooting guards can also fit into that position, like Reaves, Reddish, and Christie.
D’Moi Hodge is on a two-way contract and will be spending a lot of time with the South Bay Lakers. There are no guaranteed rotational minutes for him, so he’ll have to find a way to make himself useful for the main team as well.
Power Forwards
Jarred Vanderbilt, Rui Hachimura, Alex Fudge, Vincent Valerio-Bodon
Many would say the power forward spot is where the Lakers lack talent, explaining why Anthony Davis wants to switch over to the position. But Jarred Vanderbilt is a phenomenal fit with the Lakers’ defensive scheme, being able to switch onto the perimeter and defend the opposing team’s best player while also providing paint protection. His offense is rough and he couldn’t find minutes in the playoffs, but he will be a great regular-season option.
Rui Hachimura will likely play the bulk of the minutes at power forward and will be their sixth man. He is a great option next to James and Davis, so he is likely going to start if the Lakers starting five doesn’t have the offensive spark it needs. He averaged 12.2 points and 3.6 rebounds in the playoffs, which shows he can be a decent option.
Alex Fudge is on a two-way contract, while Vincent Valerio-Bodon will be one of the many Lakers hoping to solidify a spot on the main roster during training camp.
Centers
Anthony Davis, Christian Wood, Jaxson Hayes, Colin Castleton
The Lakers frontline is their strength, and Anthony Davis is the man that makes it tick. His availability through the end-season run for the Lakers and the playoffs led to the team performing as well as they did. Davis averaged 22.6 points, 14.1 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks in the playoffs, struggling offensively at times but was arguably the best defender in the NBA for the postseason. He’s bound to miss time over the 82-game regular season, so the Lakers have loaded up with versatile options behind him.
On the offensive front, new signing Christian Wood will be integral in providing a spark off the bench. He averaged 16.6 points and 7.3 rebounds in a topsy-turvy season with the Mavericks. Even if he doesn’t have a major role, he can be a consistent source of buckets alongside Davis or in his place.
Jaxson Hayes is a defensive-oriented center who can provide the rim protection the Lakers have lacked without Davis in recent seasons. He can block shots, and catch lobs on offense, giving the Lakers an athlete that could be a solid pick-and-roll partner with their guards.
How Far Can The Lakers Go This Season?
The Lakers have boundless potential this season. They have a very well-composed roster with versatility all across the roster. Most of the players on the roster are multi-positional and can fill multiple needs based on what the team needs. Darvin Ham expects strong defensive fundamentals which almost every single signing outside Christian Wood has. With the players on the roster, the Lakers could really explode into the Western Conference and challenge at the top.
Not many Western teams have taken massive strides forward. The Nuggets are hoping to replace Bruce Brown and Jeff Green with Christian Braun and Peyton Watson, but there’s no guarantee that will be a positive switch for the franchise. The Suns have also filled out their roster with minimum signings after swinging for Bradley Beal.
The East has teams like the Celtics, Bucks, and maybe even the Heat with Damian Lillard in contention. The Lakers shouldn’t worry about the East unless they make the Finals. But it is a natural impulse for them to wonder and keep looking around the NBA at how every team has built their roster.
They will compete for a title and with good health, it’s actually plausible. The pieces are there for the coaching staff and the players to maximize a possible championship run. If it’s not this season, it’ll be hard for them to win again in the LeBron era.
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