The Los Angeles Lakers have made some capable additions to their roster in the offseason. With the arrival of players like Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart, who can immediately make an impact on the team’s performance, the Lakers have also gained some flexibility in deciding their starting lineups for the upcoming season.
The Lakers opted to go for a fairly balanced starting rotation last season. With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves filling out the backcourt, LeBron James has usually anchored the frontcourt.
The remaining spots in the frontcourt interchangeably featured Rui Hachimura or Dorian Finney-Smith in the forward position, with Jaxson Hayes completing the lineup as the starting center.
The trio of Doncic, Reaves, and James commands a certain degree of attention from any opposition defense. But the drop-off in talent in the big-man rotation led to significantly reduced productivity, particularly in the postseason.
The addition of Ayton and Smart clears up many concerns in this regard. With a capable center on the roster, the Purple and Gold have established their starting big man.
With Smart on the roster, the Lakers have gained an elite point of attack defender, who gives them the freedom to make necessary adjustments based on the matchup.
The regular season will see the Lakers face different challenges with each team. Being able to adapt to each one will prove to be a strength. With this in mind, we explore three potential starting lineups the team can experiment with next season.
Ultra-Offensive
PG – Luka Doncic
SG – Austin Reaves
SF – LeBron James
PF – Rui Hachimura
C – Deandre Ayton
This lineup features the Lakers’ most capable offensive threats on the court at the same time. While being reminiscent of the team’s traditional rotation from last season, this lineup features a massive upgrade in the big man spot with Ayton replacing Hayes.
Ayton’s addition is a major boost for the Lakers. Last season, the 27-year-old recorded an average of 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds, while shooting an efficient 56.6% from the field.
With Ayton, the Purple and Gold have a relevant lob threat for Doncic to pair with in pick-and-roll situations. Additionally, he is capable of creating shots for himself, with an arsenal of low-post and midrange moves.
What makes this lineup “Ultra Offense” is that each player is capable of scoring in a pinch.
Hachimura’s three-point shooting and underrated midrange game make him a flexible scoring option. He averaged 13.1 points and 5.0 rebounds last season on shooting splits of 50.9% from the field and 41.3% from three-point range.
Reaves is one of the best tertiary scoring options in the league. His versatility as a scorer and playmaker makes him a threat that defenses need to be wary of. He averaged 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists last season.
The scoring prowess and chemistry of Doncic and James speak for themselves.
Doncic’s average of 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game is beyond impressive. Meanwhile, James’ average of 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists from last season doesn’t pale in comparison either.
As one of the most formidable superstar duos in the league, the Purple and Gold can expect to see significant production from them.
The potential with this lineup to create opportunities on the offensive end is immense. But with the limited defensive coverage, the team would need to rely on outscoring the opposition to retain a lead.
3-Guard
PG – Luka Doncic
SG – Austin Reaves
SF – Marcus Smart
PF – LeBron James
C – Deandre Ayton
This variant of the starting lineup would see the Lakers sacrifice some size by replacing Hachimura with Smart. But the implications of this change are also significant.
With the addition of Smart to the lineup, the Purple and Gold introduce one of the most proficient on-ball defenders and defensive anchors in the game. Smart’s commitment to his role has seen him work on his conditioning in the offseason; the results of this could pay dividends for the Lakers.
As the primary defensive anchor, Smart would be able to disrupt a lot of plays. His hustle, quickness, and intelligence would create enough opportunities for the Lakers to explore a more transition-based offense.
With athletic players who are capable of running the floor, paired with a gifted passer in Doncic, the Purple and Gold could see a resurgence of the “Showtime” brand of play.
Doncic’s size at guard helps the Lakers maintain a physical edge in half-court sets. With Smart effectively moving into an off-ball, perimeter shooting role, the Lakers would run their offense through Doncic or James, with the remaining players becoming beneficiaries of the passes.
Smart recorded an average of 9.0 points, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 steals last season, while shooting 34.8% from beyond the arc. While the Lakers will hope to see an improvement in these numbers, his defensive contributions would still be immense in covering Doncic’s shortcomings.
Well-Balanced
PG – Luka Doncic
SG – Marcus Smart
SF – LeBron James
PF – Rui Hachimura
C – Deandre Ayton
The “Well-Balanced” lineup lives up to its name, offering two-way efficiency. With Smart switching in for Reaves, the Lakers opt for a primary defender instead of a secondary ball-handler/scorer.
This rotation allows the Lakers to maintain a height advantage in most matchups, with the average height still being more significant than the “3-Guard” rotation. Meanwhile, the introduction of Smart as a defensive anchor helps the Purple and Gold retain their chances of forcing turnovers and steals.
Offensively, this lineup may take a bit of a hit as Smart’s offensive output is limited in comparison to Reaves. But with their frontcourt, the production of Hachimura and Ayton may be able to make up for it if they assume a half-court style of play.
With Doncic dictating the tempo, it is expected that the others will see limited touches on the ball. This could be positive or negative depending on the circumstances. But having at least two players who can hold firm on the defensive end could be viewed favorably.
Which Lineup Will The Lakers Choose?
It is far more likely for the Lakers to choose the “Well-Balanced” rotation more frequently. There is a lot more two-way potential, which doesn’t necessarily reduce their offensive productivity by much.
The additional benefit of this choice is having Reaves come in with the bench mob. As the primary option on offense in this scenario, the 27-year-old could see a massive uptick in scoring, especially against opposing second units.
This could benefit the team by increasing bench contribution, a vital aspect in the modern game. With a greater emphasis on overall roster depth, the Purple and Gold may benefit from seeing sustained contributions across the board.
