The list of Los Angeles Lakers 2021-22 is finally almost complete.
Surprisingly, after the departure of Marc Gasol, LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Talen Horton-Tucker look set to be the only pieces to return from last season, unless Wesley Matthews (who would be smart for the path).
Los Angeles is the oldest and most successful team in the NBA. They are also one of the deepest and most versatile. Everyone on the active list has a case to be in Frank Vogel’s rotation.
The team still has two places to fill, though at least one will remain open for the mid-season purchase.
The training camp begins on September 28, the preseason opens on October 3 and the regular season ends on October 19. We take this opportunity to catch our breath and project what the Lakers ’depth chart might look like. The possibilities are limitless.
Punters: Russell Westbrook, Kendrick Nunn, Rajon Rondo
Viouslybviament, Westbrook ranks number 1 here. The biggest question is: how much will Rondo play, at least during the regular season?
“I’ve been told about roles with this team and what they hope they can bring to the team this year, compared to the last couple of seasons.” Rondo told the Mason & Ireland program. “Only be ready when my number is called. Viously, obviously, we have a lot of depth in the guard position. Understanding that I won’t play as much as I would like, or possibly want, but at the same time be a mentor to young guys … just doing what I do best. “
The veteran will still offer immense value in the movie theater, and at this stage of his career, he may be better off keeping his legs (and the best basketball) for the playoffs. If so, Nunn, the team’s fifth-highest-paid player who has averaged 15.1 PPG during his two NBA seasons, can handle primary security tasks for much of the regular season.
The Lakers will likely stagger the lineups to always have LeBron or Russ on the ground, and James will be the lead orchestrator when he’s away from home without Westbrook.
Shotgun: Wayne Ellington, Talen Horton-Tucker, Nunn, Malik Monk
I could see Ellington start the season in the starting lineup, but I also put aside the rotation sometimes if he doesn’t shoot well. Ellington are the team’s best pure and off-ball sniper engine, and they will need their space in the lineups with Russ, LeBron and Davis.
I asked Wayne Ellington about his move out of elite ball. He mentioned (not surprisingly) Rip Hamilton, Reggie Miller and Ray Allen as inspirations, and believes his ability to create space for LeBron, Russ and AD can be as important to the Lakers as hitting 3: pic.twitter.com/2VbDZYIePD
– michael corvo (@_michaelcorvo_) August 6, 2021
Horton-Tucker could emerge as the team’s fourth-best player, though I can see how he runs more at 3, where the Lakers are a little thinner. Nunn is a true combined guard who can provide a punch from two points in certain formations.
“I’m a guard, combined guard, as you mean in today’s game,” Nunn said. “I just brought my strengths to the game, either at 1 or 2. On the ball or off the ball.”
Monk will also have chances, though the rest of his game is a little less polished than Ellington. Whoever shoots better between the two can end up being the initial 2.
Small forward: Trevor Ariza, Kent Bazemore, Horton-Tucker
Forward: LeBron James, Ariza, Carmelo Anthony
Center: Anthony Davis, Dwight Howard, DeAndre Jordan
This means that Davis starts in the center, which seems more and more logical with the separation of the soil from Gasol to Spain. On paper, the Lakers ’best starting lineup features Davis at 5 and James at 4, with Dwight as backup and Jordan as bank insurance for Howard.
In this case, I can see Vogel slipping Ariza into the starting lineup for his 3D and 3D skills, though I wouldn’t rule out Bazemore getting a shot at certain clashes. Bazemore isn’t as long as Ariza, but he’s a slightly better three-point shooter and can change guards more easily. Ariza can face power advantages with more skill.
It’s hard to predict if THT will spend more time at 2 or 3 this season – frankly, like much of the roster, it will quickly falter between the two places and you may even see some guard opportunities. Either way, I think Horton-Tucker will see between 25 and 30 minutes a night and is a long-term candidate for best improved player and sixth man of the year, if the Lakers use him in that role. The extent to which he improves his ball handling, defense and outside shooting will be an X factor in the pursuit of the Lakers ’No. 18 championship.
Anthony will get his chances to score in Westbrook-led second-half lineups, but he is the only Lakers front-line player with no defensive value. This could limit your overall minutes.
Vogel deployed an 11-man rotation over much of last season, constantly mixed and matched (partially the result of non-stop injuries) and asked almost everyone to make contributions at some point. I hope you do the same with such an experienced and deep list. Come postseason, it will turn it back on and tighten the screws. Of course, health will determine many of your movements, once again.
Los Angeles will ask everyone to check their ego at the door and accept their role, which can vary from game to game. There will be ups and downs along the way, as Westbrook and Anthony acknowledged in their introductory remarks, and there are many variables to resolve.
These are good problems.
