RealGM

I’m a die hard lakers fan. Love them. Know them all. Could name Nearly every rostered player for the last 2 decades. And people thought/think I’m crazy for thinking /saying the lakers can win it all THIS year.

The lakers have lebron. One of the best players of all time, a unique basketball masterpiece of a player who has happen to been to 8 straight finals over the last 8 years with a few victories. They can win it all if they put the pieces around him. Period. Not a hard concept. Not something that hasn’t already been proven. Lakers had some nice young pieces. But they need a team around him.

They did a decent job, signed people, had a vision. There have been hits and misses, but the goal is championship. And here’s what they have.

Let’s just down to what’s on the court

Two positions are clearly defined.
Rondo/ball at pg
McGee/chandler at C

These are 4 pretty position centric players that will fill out both ends of the 5 man spectrum of who’s on the court.

You have lebron.

Now you need 2 guys to fit around him, with established anchors at pg and c allowing super high amounts of versatility at the 2-4 spots.

Hart and kcp are fairly similar players who are sg and can slide down and guards sfs
Kuz/lebron/Ingram at the sf/pf spots fits fluidly.

Lance Stephenson fills 3rd string ball handeling as well as sg/sf roles.

That’s 10 dudes who we know that can bring it every night.

Ball/rondo
Hart/kcp/Stephenson
Lebron/Ingram
Kuzma
McGee/chandler

There is versatility from the 2-4 spots with anchors at pg and center

Wagner and svi are prospects. They could work. They could not.

Beasley is dead weight
Zubac has regressed where any D-league center could fill his mins if needed and isn’t a viable long term prospect any more. (What happen)

That’s two spots that are open and can be used for improvement.

A player who can play pf/c and run fast and be hyper athletic would be nice

As well as shooting.

Lakers have a fine 10 man unit now. And room for inprovement. I feel they are about to go on a big win streak (5/6 wins) and are serious title contenders.

Shooting is the biggest issue obviously.

Kcp is certainly an option for trade, if he can bring back a consistent dead eye 3 pt shooter who isn’t a liability on defense

we're still rough around the edges but i think we're finally getting there after the Chandler acquisition.

between KCP, Hart, Lance, and Svi - I'd look to get picks for KCP.

don't' really care what happens to Beasley and Zubac, so, don't mind bringing in other guys to try out.

we could use another big to play PF or C, and i think Wagner could be that guy.

Shooting is the biggest issue yet Luke doesn't give any chance to Beasley, who has always been a decent shooter. I dunno why.

This team is not a serious title contender, so I disagree there. Also I'm not sure of the fit of some of our guys. Shooting is still a concern and defense still.

They need at least a 6th seed to have any chance at winning a round in the playoffs.

Until we trade KCP and Zubac, which I think we will, let’s run two lineups as a starting point to get this ship in order, create consistency. One fast and young, one veteran half court lineup, then of course mix and match as needed. But as a starting point:

First 6 min, old farts:
Rondo, KCP, Lance, LBJ, Chandler
Next 6 min, young guns:
Lonzo, Ingram, Hart, Kuzma, McGee

Yes, make a full hockey change unless someone gets in foul trouble etc. Then of course react to in game events and play your best players more, at the end of games etc.

It would let the young guys poke fun at the old guys for playing better defense, bragging rights, peer pressure.

Trying this for a few games could be a good move. It could help fuse things together faster. Plus, Landsberger tells me showtime did this with success in the 80s when KAJ slowed down. It’ll save LBJ’s knees and back.

Lonzo, Ingram, LeBron, Kuzma and any C seem to be ok together

Rondo, Hart, KCP, Lance and any C seems to work well together

I think this will be the lineups for a while.

Transition lineups that I want to see more of:
Lance, KCP, Svi, LeBron, McGee
Hart or Rondo with starters