The Los Angeles Lakers are a team that underwhelmed this year, finishing with a 33-49 record and missing the play-in tournament. There is no doubt that things must change ahead of next season if the Los Angeles Lakers are to make it back to the playoffs and potentially win a championship next year.
We have seen LeBron James and Anthony Davis win a championship together in the past. They were a dominant duo during the 2019-20 season and led the Los Angeles Lakers to the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
If the team builds around them correctly, Anthony Davis and LeBron James could potentially win another championship. There are definitely realistic ways for the team to improve the roster around their stars. With all of that in mind, here is the most realistic potential starting lineup and roster for the Los Angeles Lakers next season.
Kyrie Irving Is The Best Option For The Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Kyrie Irving, Seth Curry
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Russell Westbrook, Talen Horton-Tucker, 2027 First-Round Pick (LAL), 2029 First-Round Pick (LAL)
Kyrie Irving is clearly the best trade option for the Los Angeles Lakers. He would give the Brooklyn Nets a perimeter shot creator and would be a good fit next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis due to his ability to play off the ball. Kyrie Irving’s addition would add some much-needed star power to the team, and he would be able to take some of the offensive load off of LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
This trade scenario would feature the frequently reported Kyrie Irving-Russell Westbrook swap. On the Brooklyn Nets end, Seth Curry would have to be included for salary matching purposes. He would be a good role player for the Los Angeles Lakers as he is a top-tier shooter: which bodes well for his fit next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
It was previously reported that the Brooklyn Nets wanted two first-round picks to move Kyrie Irving to the Los Angeles Lakers. Thus, this trade would send out both first-round picks to the Nets to fulfill their demands. While this may seem like a lot to give up for an expiring contract, this deal gets a lot better for the Los Angeles Lakers if Kyrie Irving ends up signing a long-term deal with the franchise. On top of the draft picks involved, the Los Angeles Lakers would likely have to send out Talen Horton-Tucker, who is considered the team’s best young prospect.
There is no doubt that this deal would increase the talent level of the Los Angeles Lakers. It remains to be seen if it gets done, but it is definitely a realistic possibility for the team.
The Most Realistic Roster For The Los Angeles Lakers
Starting Lineup: Kyrie Irving, Seth Curry, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Thomas Bryant
The Best Bench Players: Kendrick Nunn, Austin Reaves, Troy Brown Jr., Juan Toscano-Anderson, Damian Jones
This starting lineup for the Los Angeles Laker would notably feature a lot more spacing, which is a welcome change from this season. That will open things up for LeBron James and Anthony Davis, both of whom are known for operating near the rim. Kyrie Irving and Seth Curry are both elite shooters that can hit a variety of different shots from range, and that backcourt will be fantastic offensively.
This lineup would also feature Anthony Davis remaining at the PF position rather than playing C, as people have suggested in the past. Thomas Bryant is a solid young center who can space the floor, and he can reduce some of the wear and tear on Anthony Davis throughout the regular season. However, it must be noted that Anthony Davis will likely close games as the C during the playoffs and in close games in the regular season. This twin-towers lineup would give the Los Angeles Lakers a rebounding advantage, and it would likely be tough for opponents to score near the rim due to the rim presence of Davis and Bryant.
The bench would be very defense-oriented, with Austin Reaves, Troy Brown Jr., and Juan Toscano-Anderson being positives on that end of the floor. Kendrick Nunn would likely be the main scoring punch off the bench, as he has shown some ability as a microwave scorer during his time with the Miami Heat in the past. Lonnie Walker IV could potentially be an option on the wing as well, but in this case, Troy Brown Jr. gets the nod due to his superior 3PT shooting ability.
The Los Angeles Lakers Could Become A Championship Team Again
If the Los Angeles Lakers trade for Kyrie Irving, they would have three stars that have won NBA championships on their roster. LeBron James won championships with both Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis separately: with all three together, they would likely be a top-tier team in the Western Conference. Any one of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Kyrie Irving could make an All-NBA team in a given year, and them playing on the same team would be some must-watch basketball.
The key to winning a championship is surrounding the stars on one’s roster with the right kind of supporting cast. The Los Angeles Lakers focusing on offense last season did not work out for them, but they have revamped the roster with a lot of good defenders who can take the tougher defensive assignments and allow the stars to be the ones that focus on scoring.
The Los Angeles Lakers, as currently constructed, could potentially be a playoff team, but it is highly unlikely that they’d end up winning a championship. But with the suggested addition of Kyrie Irving, they would be a very good team that has a solid chance of making the Finals. Making a trade for Kyrie Irving should be a no-brainer for the team, even if it means sacrificing some of their future. Taking advantage of LeBron James’ remaining superstar-level years should be the priority for the team, and we’ll see if they are able to do so.
