2018 Lakers Roster - Lineups and Overall FA Comments/Grades, etc...

[TKainZero]

It's been reported that he's basically retired and won't seek to play again.

Yeah, I feel bad for him. Ultimate professional.

I'm a little skeptical about this though. What does semi retired even mean?

Basically retired?
Do the lakers get cap relief?

[Luigi]

So what's the lineup look like with Beasley?

[Slava]

So what's the lineup look like with Beasley?

The same as it did without Beasley.

[dipstick]

Yeah, I feel bad for him. Ultimate professional.

I'm a little skeptical about this though. What does semi retired even mean?

Basically retired?
Do the lakers get cap relief?

I don't think so? Anyway, there's this.

https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-luol-deng-trolls-himself-instagram-comment/

Not really much of anything but also not sounding like someone who's retiring. Plus a look at his ig page has him conducting bball camps in Sudan.

In any case, Deng is a good guy. It's just sad to see how his career ended this way. Here's hoping that the Lakers just didn't play him to give the young core more PT and practically the year off hopefully rejuvenates his aging body.

Although signing Beasley doesn't give much confidence that the fo sees him as being serviceable.

[Luigi]

So what's the lineup look like with Beasley?

The same as it did without Beasley.

I don't think he'd start. But what will the rotation/minutes look like for LAL this year? I expect Walton will probably want to play the long term Lakers together as a unit when possible, that leaves the 1 year vets as a unit, too.

Last Season MPG:
26.2 Rondo
22.6 Stephenson
22.3 Beasley
9.5 McGee

34.2 Ball
33.5 Ingram
33.2 Pope
31.2 Kuzma
23.2 Hart
9.5 Zubac
-- Svi
-- Wagner

Lakers didn't have any vets to compete for minutes for the youngsters last season. And Rondo, Stephenson, Beasley, McGee were in more competitive situations for their minutes last season.

I'd guess something like this:

Ball (28) / Rondo (20)
Pope (24) / Hart (18) / Stephenson (6)
Ingram (28) / Kuzma (16) / Svi
James (36) / Kuzma (12)
McGee (20) / Beasley (20) / Zubac (8) / Wagner

Stephenson could play his way into the guard rotaion, too. But how do Laker fans see it going down?

[Slava]

So what's the lineup look like with Beasley?

The same as it did without Beasley.

I don't think he'd start. But what will the rotation/minutes look like for LAL this year? I expect Walton will probably want to play the long term Lakers together as a unit when possible, that leaves the 1 year vets as a unit, too.

Last Season MPG:
26.2 Rondo
22.6 Stephenson
22.3 Beasley
9.5 McGee

34.2 Ball
33.5 Ingram
33.2 Pope
31.2 Kuzma
23.2 Hart
9.5 Zubac
-- Svi
-- Wagner

Lakers didn't have any vets to compete for minutes for the youngsters last season. And Rondo, Stephenson, Beasley, McGee were in more competitive situations for their minutes last season.

I'd guess something like this:

Ball (28) / Rondo (20)
Pope (24) / Hart (18) / Stephenson (6)
Ingram (28) / Kuzma (16) / Svi
James (36) / Kuzma (12)
McGee (20) / Beasley (20) / Zubac (8) / Wagner

Stephenson could play his way into the guard rotaion, too. But how do Laker fans see it going down?

I think you have most of the rotation right but Lance will play more back up 3 and Kuz/LeBron will play spot minutes at 5.

If Ball & Rondo are free throw liabilities, we might close games with an Ingram/KCP/Hart/LeBron/Kuz line up.

[Luigi]

But what will the rotation/minutes look like for LAL this year? I expect Walton will probably want to play the long term Lakers together as a unit when possible, that leaves the 1 year vets as a unit, too.

Last Season MPG:
26.2 Rondo
22.6 Stephenson
22.3 Beasley
9.5 McGee

34.2 Ball
33.5 Ingram
33.2 Pope
31.2 Kuzma
23.2 Hart
9.5 Zubac
-- Svi
-- Wagner

Lakers didn't have any vets to compete for minutes for the youngsters last season. And Rondo, Stephenson, Beasley, McGee were in more competitive situations for their minutes last season.

I'd guess something like this:

Ball (28) / Rondo (20)
Pope (24) / Hart (18) / Stephenson (6)
Ingram (28) / Kuzma (16) / Svi
James (36) / Kuzma (12)
McGee (20) / Beasley (20) / Zubac (8) / Wagner

Stephenson could play his way into the guard rotaion, too. But how do Laker fans see it going down?

I think you have most of the rotation right but Lance will play more back up 3 and Kuz/LeBron will play spot minutes at 5.

If Ball & Rondo are free throw liabilities, we might close games with an Ingram/KCP/Hart/LeBron/Kuz line up.

I have been thinking about James at center. I think you'd get the same thing out of Beasley at center, without asking Lebron to deal with guarding guys that weigh that much. And Beasley is better equipped to do it than Kuzma, just by having a stronger, older frame. Beasley played as a center in college if I remember right. That would let James and Kuzma play like forwards on both ends with Beasley out of position instead.

I wonder if Stephenson is going to earn any considerable minutes or not. Should be interesting to watch.

The Hart, Pope, Ingram, Kuzma, Lebron lineup is also interesting because it might be the core that LA keeps for the next few years. The core you try to add another star to. Everyone is probably expendable, but the rest seem more expendable than this lineup.

[zimpy27]

So what's the lineup look like with Beasley?

The same as it did without Beasley.

I don't think he'd start. But what will the rotation/minutes look like for LAL this year? I expect Walton will probably want to play the long term Lakers together as a unit when possible, that leaves the 1 year vets as a unit, too.

Last Season MPG:
26.2 Rondo
22.6 Stephenson
22.3 Beasley
9.5 McGee

34.2 Ball
33.5 Ingram
33.2 Pope
31.2 Kuzma
23.2 Hart
9.5 Zubac
-- Svi
-- Wagner

Lakers didn't have any vets to compete for minutes for the youngsters last season. And Rondo, Stephenson, Beasley, McGee were in more competitive situations for their minutes last season.

I'd guess something like this:

Ball (28) / Rondo (20)
Pope (24) / Hart (18) / Stephenson (6)
Ingram (28) / Kuzma (16) / Svi
James (36) / Kuzma (12)
McGee (20) / Beasley (20) / Zubac (8) / Wagner

Stephenson could play his way into the guard rotaion, too. But how do Laker fans see it going down?

Lineups 1 and 2 will look to have a ball distributor, 3 scoring wings, C.
Lonzo, KCP, Ingram, LeBron, McGee. 18 mins.
Rondo, Hart, Beasley, kuzma, Wagner. 12 mins.

Lineup 3 will be small ball shooting.
Rondo, Hart, Ingram, kuzma, lebron. 12 mins.

Lineup 4 will be small ball playmaking.
Lonzo, Lance, Svi, kuzma, LeBron. 6 mins

Lonzo (24), Rondo (24)
KCP (18), Hart (24), Lance (6)
Ingram (30), Beasley (12), Svi (6)
LeBron (36), kuzma (30)
McGee (18), Wagner (12)

This is without injury, I see Lance getting more minutes if an injury occurs.

[Slava]

But what will the rotation/minutes look like for LAL this year? I expect Walton will probably want to play the long term Lakers together as a unit when possible, that leaves the 1 year vets as a unit, too.

Last Season MPG:
26.2 Rondo
22.6 Stephenson
22.3 Beasley
9.5 McGee

34.2 Ball
33.5 Ingram
33.2 Pope
31.2 Kuzma
23.2 Hart
9.5 Zubac
-- Svi
-- Wagner

Lakers didn't have any vets to compete for minutes for the youngsters last season. And Rondo, Stephenson, Beasley, McGee were in more competitive situations for their minutes last season.

I'd guess something like this:

Ball (28) / Rondo (20)
Pope (24) / Hart (18) / Stephenson (6)
Ingram (28) / Kuzma (16) / Svi
James (36) / Kuzma (12)
McGee (20) / Beasley (20) / Zubac (8) / Wagner

Stephenson could play his way into the guard rotaion, too. But how do Laker fans see it going down?

I think you have most of the rotation right but Lance will play more back up 3 and Kuz/LeBron will play spot minutes at 5.

If Ball & Rondo are free throw liabilities, we might close games with an Ingram/KCP/Hart/LeBron/Kuz line up.

I have been thinking about James at center. I think you'd get the same thing out of Beasley at center, without asking Lebron to deal with guarding guys that weigh that much. And Beasley is better equipped to do it than Kuzma, just by having a stronger, older frame. Beasley played as a center in college if I remember right. That would let James and Kuzma play like forwards on both ends with Beasley out of position instead.

I wonder if Stephenson is going to earn any considerable minutes or not. Should be interesting to watch.

The Hart, Pope, Ingram, Kuzma, Lebron lineup is also interesting because it might be the core that LA keeps for the next few years. The core you try to add another star to. Everyone is probably expendable, but the rest seem more expendable than this lineup.

I really won't want to play Beasley for anything other than some microwave scorer type role in bench line ups with Rondo. Even at his best he's a defensive liability and you can't get away with those in a switching defense. Teams would just shuffle the ball until they get to him and score. Stephenson is more likely to have a meaningful role than Beasley IMO as we have no defenders for big wings unless we bump Hart a position.

[Luigi]

I really won't want to play Beasley for anything other than some microwave scorer type role in bench line ups with Rondo. Even at his best he's a defensive liability and you can't get away with those in a switching defense. Teams would just shuffle the ball until they get to him and score. Stephenson is more likely to have a meaningful role than Beasley IMO as we have no defenders for big wings unless we bump Hart a position.

Yeah, maybe I'm thinking of younger Beasley. Stephenson's defense will be useful.

That means Lebron at center I guess, if James is down for it. I really wonder what Lebron is planning on this year in LAL in terms of minutes, position, and play style.

[zimpy27]

Rank by minute last season:

26.2 Rondo - 15.3 PER
22.6 Lance - 12.4 PER
22.3 Beasley - 17.8 PER
9.5 McGee - 23.2 PER
36.9 Lebron - 28.6 PER
34.2 Ball - 12.5 PER
33.5 Ingram - 13.8 PER
33.2 KCP - 13.2 PER
31.2 Kuzma - 14.2 PER
23.2 Hart - 12.2 PER


If you rank by PER last season:

36.9 Lebron - 28.6 PER
9.5 McGee - 23.2 PER
22.3 Beasley - 17.8 PER
26.2 Rondo - 15.3 PER
31.2 Kuzma - 14.2 PER
33.5 Ingram - 13.8 PER
33.2 KCP - 13.2 PER
34.2 Ball - 12.5 PER
22.6 Lance - 12.4 PER
23.2 Hart - 12.2 PER

Guards
PG - Rondo and Lonzo share minutes here.
SG - KCP and Hart share minutes at SG.

Wings
LeBron plays 18mpg, Ingram plays 30mpg, Kuzma plays 30mpg, Beasley plays 22pmg.

Center
McGee doubles minutes to 18 mpg. LeBron plays 16mpg here too. Wagner/Zubac share 14mpg.

Lance and Svi cover guard and wings through injury.

[stan francisco]

With constant roster changes, this is what I think minute distribution will look like, up until TD:

PG: Ball[28] Rondo[17] Caruso[3]
SG: KCP[18] Hart[17] Myk[5] Lance[6] Ingram[2]
SF: Ingram[27] Kuzma[8] Lance[7] Beasley[6]
PF: LBJ[22] Kuzma[18] Beasley[8]
C: McGee[18] Zubac[12] LBJ[12] Wagner[4] Kuz[2]

LBJ 34
Ball, Ingram, Kuzma 28
Pope, McGee 18
Rondo, Hart 17
Beasley 14
Lance 13
Zubac 12
Mykhailiuk 5
Wagner 4


Edit: And I do think the PG minutes will gradually shift as Rondo is sure to earn more minutes. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the two play at the same time at times either.

The kid stars will now have competitive vets breathing down their necks.

There’s tough competition for minutes at all positions. Should be an interesting training camp. Defense should be the main factor in minutes earned. This team needs little to no help running any kind of offense.

[dipstick]

I know some here has commented on this team being a bunch of misfits or being the expendables of the NBA and the team being so difficult to coach.

Do we share the sentiment here on the board? Will Luke really have a difficult time with this bunch of guys?

Personally, I think this has been overblown. If you look at the roster, the outspoken guys maybe just Lebron and Rondo. Has coaches really had problems with Lance, McGee or Beas? If you think about it, our core is still pretty much the same with BI, Lonzo and Kuz with only Lebron as the addition. If any of these other guys serve as distractions, its easy to cut their 1 year contracts.

I'm really excited for the season already. Training camp is just 2 moths away. Just still bewildered as to what the FO is planning on doing for the 5 spot. Hard to believe that they're really that high on Wagner that they're risking not having any vets other than McGee.

[lakerz12]

Can anyone translate Channing Frye's comments on the roster?

"“They’re young guys are crazy talented. The only worry I have is, they don’t have a guy that’s not expected to play that is going to do the work. You need that one 15th man. You need a guy that is on par with your A1, that is working harder than him to do nothing. But that is respected and can hold people accountable.”



Does he mean someone who knows they are never going to play but works hard and is a good locker-room presence? Is he basically trying to say that the team is missing him because he wishes he was still there?

https://www.lakersnation.com/lakers-news-channing-frye-sees-problem-lebron-james-remade-roster/2018/07/28/

[dipstick]

Can anyone translate Channing Frye's comments on the roster?

"“They’re young guys are crazy talented. The only worry I have is, they don’t have a guy that’s not expected to play that is going to do the work. You need that one 15th man. You need a guy that is on par with your A1, that is working harder than him to do nothing. But that is respected and can hold people accountable.”



Does he mean someone who knows they are never going to play but works hard and is a good locker-room presence? Is he basically trying to say that the team is missing him because he wishes he was still there?

https://www.lakersnation.com/lakers-news-channing-frye-sees-problem-lebron-james-remade-roster/2018/07/28/

The article already stated that it might mean that the team is missing someone like him.

But taking away his bias for himself, I think his point is the team needs someone at the end of the bench to serve as an example that even if this guy doesn't play, he still works his butt out day after day.

[danfantastk32]

I know some here has commented on this team being a bunch of misfits or being the expendables of the NBA and the team being so difficult to coach.

Do we share the sentiment here on the board? Will Luke really have a difficult time with this bunch of guys?

Personally, I think this has been overblown. If you look at the roster, the outspoken guys maybe just Lebron and Rondo. Has coaches really had problems with Lance, McGee or Beas? If you think about it, our core is still pretty much the same with BI, Lonzo and Kuz with only Lebron as the addition. If any of these other guys serve as distractions, its easy to cut their 1 year contracts.

I think this team is loaded with knuckle-heads.

But 3 points: Luke is in good graces with everyone. Every knucklehead will have to answer to Lebron. They are on 1-year deals, so screw them if they get out of line. <--------------------I think you and I are on same page so far.

Where I am unhappy is the "turn back time" issue. Yes....we can 'sit' all these guys if they become a distraction. But doesn't the very fact that we're having this conversation mean something's wrong? We cant go back in time and sign someone else now. Couldn't we have done better? Would we be having the "knuckle-head conversation if we'd kept Randle? Should we even be having this conversation?

Let's hope Lebron is all that, and keeps these guys in line. Because we have too much young talent to surround them with the mavericks of the NBA.