How can the integration of L.A.’s new additions create a rotation that fits?
As anticipation grows by the day for the start of the new season, there are still questions about how JJ Redick and his staff will construct their rotation. Like any team with championship aspirations, giving players clearly defined roles and establishing expectations from the jump is crucial.
Doncic, James, Reaves and Ayton are pretty much a lock to be four of the five starters, but who should the fifth spot go to?
Which Player Fits Best Next to the “Big Four”?
The safest bet may be to assume that Rui Hachimura will complete the starting five, essentially keeping last year’s starters with the exception of Jaxson Hayes now being replaced by Deandre Ayton. Rui is incredibly efficient, shooting 50.9% from the field and 41.3% from three.
While the starters pose an incredible offensive threat, a lineup of Doncic, Reaves, Hachimura, James, and Ayton isn’t the most defensively sound on paper. Since there is no reliable point of attack defense in the lineup, the idea of inserting Marcus Smart with the starters instead of Rui becomes a real discussion.
It is not a move that should be deemed a demotion on Rui’s part nor is it an evaluation of skill but instead a prioritization of fit and balance within the rotation. Smart is best suited to be utilized in defending the opposing teams’ best guards and wings. Rui, while still hovering around his 30 minutes per game average, can become the scoring anchor that the bench desperately needs.
Who’s In and Who’s Out
NBA teams throughout the regular season typically resort to a nine-to-ten-man rotation. While there may be more clarity on a defined starting lineup closer to training camp and preseason, we’ll assume for now that Doncic, Reaves, Hachimura, James and Ayton will make up the starters.
That leaves five spots off the bench for the nine remaining players on the roster. When evaluating who will get playing time, the four players likely to get left out of the main rotation come down to Maxi Kleber, Dalton Knecht, Bronny James and rookie Adou Thiero. The probable reserves then are Marcus Smart, Gabe Vincent, Jake LaRavia, Jarred Vanderbilt and Jaxson Hayes.
But nothing is set in stone and there is plenty of time between now and October 21st for the Lakers coaches to create a rotation that suits their preferred playstyle. Dalton Knecht showed a lot of promise his rookie year and could very well crack the rotation. It is not at all impossible for Knecht, Kleber, James Jr. and Thiero to have the chance to solidify themselves as core pieces if they perform well in training camp.
L.A.’s New Depth
One challenge the Lakers faced last season was that they had players playing out of position largely due to their lack of center depth. Players had to fill roles they weren’t accustomed to. Now Hayes can play the backup center instead of Vanderbilt. Having Vanderbilt and Smart on the perimeter more allows for guys like Rui and Luka to defend more in the midrange and post area.
While the Lakers don’t have the deepest team in the league, they look like they’re better equipped than they were a season ago.
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