2019–2020 NBA Season Previews: Los Angeles Lakers
Head Coach: Frank Vogel
Last Season: 37–45, 10th in Western Conference
Projected Starters:
- PG: LeBron James
- SG: Avery Bradley
- SF: Danny Green
- PF: Anthony Davis
- C: JaVale McGee
Additions: Kostas Antetokounmpo, Avery Bradley, Quinn Cook, DeMarcus Cousins, Troy Daniels, Anthony Davis, Jared Dudley, Danny Green, Talen Horton-Tucker (R), Dwight Howard, Zach Norvell Jr. (R).
Losses: Lonzo Ball, Isaac Bonga, Reggie Bullock, Tyson Chandler, Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram, Mike Muscala, Lance Stephenson, Moritz Wagner, Johnathan Williams.
With an organization as prominent as the Los Angeles Lakers, there’s always bound to be some drama. Last season was no different for the purple and gold. There was a reported friction between LeBron James and the younger players amidst trade rumors, Magic Johnson unexpectedly stepped down as President of Basketball Operations, and the Lakers fired Head Coach Luke Walton after three seasons.
In terms of player movement, it didn’t take long into the LeBron James era for the Lakers to disband their young core. After a disappointing campaign and sixth straight season of missing the playoffs, the Lakers dealt away Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and three first-round picks for Anthony Davis. After a failed attempt at AD at the trade deadline, the Lakers now have two of the top 10 players in the league in Davis and James and have a great chance of making the postseason for the first time since 2013.
Outside of Dwyane Wade, Davis is arguably the best player James has teamed up with in his career. Given the injuries James dealt with last year and that he is getting older, Davis should help alleviate some of the load James has to carry. Davis and James will be one of the more dynamic duos in the league, especially in the pick-and-roll.
James has been one of the NBA’s best pick-and-roll scorers throughout his career, and last year was no different. In his first season as a Laker, James ranked in the 85th percentile with almost a point per possession, putting him on the same page as James Harden, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. While he’s never been known as a great shooter, James has improved his jumpshot to the point where defenses have to respect him from the outside. When defenders over pursue off screens or closeouts, James uses his athleticism, quickness and strength to do what he does best: attack the basket.
On the other hand, Anthony Davis is one of the best roll men in the league. Nobody averaged more points per game as a roller on those plays than Davis in 2015–16 and 2016–17. Davis is a freak athlete, and given that he is now one of the more elite passers in NBA history in James to throw him lobs, his effectiveness should be maximized in the pick-and-roll.
While James will certainly help Davis, the duo should prove beneficial for both sides. James will help Davis get good shots, but “AD” is not a player who needs others to create shots for him. Davis dominates the post offensively and can also stretch his range to mid-range and the 3-point line. Given that he opens up the floor, Davis should help open up the floor for James to drive to the basket.
The James-Davis duo will be a force to be reckoned with, but it won’t come without flaws. Given that Davis prefers to play power forward, that means that Dwight Howard or JaVale McGee will play the center position and cramp spacing. Howard and McGee have never been known for having jumpshot range, and having them on the floor could clog driving lanes for James and Davis. If the Lakers want to maximize the capabilities of James and Davis, I believe they should start Davis at the center position.
Outside of James and Davis, the Lakers roster is filled with a abundance of role players. There was a lot of turnover from the Lakers roster from last season to now, as there are 12 new faces dawning the purple and gold this year (tied for most new players on a team with the Hawks and Grizzlies). 10 players from last year are gone, as only six Lakers from the 2017–18 season will run it back this year (James, McGee, Rajon Rondo, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma, Alex Caruso).
Unlike last off-season, the Lakers signed more shooters this past summer to try to bolster their 29th ranked 3-point percentage from last year. Los Angeles brought in Danny Green, Avery Bradley, Troy Daniels and Quinn Cook, all of whom shot over 35% from deep last year.
The most prominent of these additions is Green. Fresh off his second NBA championship, Green joins the Lakers after helping the Toronto Raptors win their first NBA championship in franchise history. The 10-year veteran is the epitome of a “3-and-D” player, as he was second in the league last season in 3-point percentage at 45.5%. Green is also a superb defender and hard-working defender that constantly disrupts opposing team’s passing lanes. Green will almost certainly be on the floor with James at Davis at all times, as he will prove to be an elite leak out option for when James and Davis run into trouble.
While the Lakers have more 3-point shooters than last year, their 3-point specialists have limitations. Daniels and Cook shot 38% and 40% from 3-point range last year, but more than likely won’t receive a lot of minutes due to their playmaking and defensive deficiencies. Bradley, Caldwell-Pope and Green project as “3-and-D” players who should thrive next to James.
At the center position, the Lakers were expected to have a third star in DeMarcus Cousins, but that disappeared when Cousins tore his ACL on August 15. In response, Los Angeles signed Dwight Howard, who should hare minutes at the center spot with McGee and Davis.
For Howard, this is his second stint with the Lakers after an unpleasant one year tenure in the 2012–13 season. While Howard led the NBA in rebounding that season, he clashed with Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash and left the Lakers after one season. Since his first stint with L.A., Howard has played for the Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards.
Howard has undergone a major falloff from one of the most dominating big men in the NBA to a journeyman. The three-time defensive player of the year has also been criticized for butting heads with players and coaches in the past, which may explain why he has now played for a different team in each of the last five seasons.
With the Wizards last season, Howard put up 12.8 points and 6.6 rebounds a contest in nine games before missing the remainder of the season due to injury. Washington was not as effective with Howard on the floor last year, as the Wizards were 10 points worse per 100 possessions when he was on the court. Without Howard on the floor, the Wizards were third in offensive rating last year, and that ranking dropped to 28th when he was playing.
For the Lakers, Howard is a low-risk high-reward move the center spot. As a 33-year-old, Howard’s opportunities in the league are dwindling. The former star has a chance to redeem himself as an interior defender and pick-an-roll lob threat. Howard’s contract with the Lakers is unique as well, as the Lakers will pay him $14,490 for every day he’s on the roster, starting on October 21.
If Howard doesn’t pan out, JaVale McGee will take over as the starting center. The 10-year veteran is coming off his best season as a pro, as he averaged 12 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in 62 starts. McGee is a solid rebounding and defensive specialist who thrived last season next to James.
X-Factor: Kyle Kuzma
Kyle Kuzma has been in the gym religiously this summer working on his jumpshot and trying to improve his overall game. “Kuz” struggled with his efficiency last year as a scorer and shooter, as both his field goal percentage barely improved and his 3-point percentage dropped from 36% to 30%. His biggest downfalls in the NBA thus far have been his defense, shot selection and efficiency.
Kuzma has reportedly been working with the shooting coach “Lethal Shooter” this off-season to refine his form. According to this coach, Kuzma has been working hard to change eight major components of his jumper, including his balance, release form and his strength.
While he is set to miss some time due to a fracture in his foot, Kuzma will be expected to make a big leap this season. If his shot transformations translate into games, and he improves other facets of his game, Kuzma will be a valuable asset for the Lakers.
Questions:
What is the point guard situation?
The only area the Lakers didn’t shore up this off-season was the point guard position. Los Angeles brought back Rajon Rondo on a two-year deal, but he is nowhere near as effective as he used to be. He did shoot 36% from 3-point range last year, but defenses still ignored him for the most part to focus on other players on the floor. Rondo’s defense has also fallen off dramatically since his prime.
There have been reports that LeBron James will play more point guard this season, and I believe that is the best course of action for the Lakers. While Rondo is the projected starter at the point, I don’t think he should be on the court with James. Given how ball-dominant James is and how many touches he’ll inevitably get, Rondo would be forced to play off the ball where he does not thrive. Outside of Rondo and James, Alex Caruso has emerged as a decent role player for the Lakers who should get his fair share of minutes at the point. The former Texas A&M Aggie is a slick, offensive minded point guard who can pass effectively and knock down 3-pointers.
Is Anthony Davis the answer for a championship?
After a drama filled season full of trade rumors and DNPs due to those speculations, Davis ha finally found a change of scenery in Los Angeles. After not making it past the second round as a Pelican, Davis now finds himself in his best situation to win yet.
Despite the injuries and chaos his final year New Orleans brought him, Davis was still one of the most effective players as he still averaged 25.9 points, 3.9 assists, and 12 rebounds per game. The scariest part is that he is still just 26 years old and just entering his prime. Expect him to continue to continue showcasing his top-10 player abilities.
Verdict:
On paper, the Lakers had a much better off-season than they did last year. The “Meme Team” of last year is gone, as the Lakers now have arguably the best duo in the league and solid role players surrounding them. How all the pieces will fit remains to be seen, but the Lakers should be at the very least be better than they were last season.
