RealGM

Now that the deadline has finally passed, we're going to go forward with the following roster barring a buyout signing in the close future.

D'Angelo Russell
Dennis Schroder
Scotty Pippen Jr.
Austin Reaves
Lonnie Walker
Max Christie
Malik Beasley
Troy Brown Jr.
Cole Swider
Rui Hachimura
Lebron James
Jarred Vanderbilt
Anthony Davis
Wenyen Gabriel
Mo Bamba

We have some question marks, I think Russell, Lebron and Davis are the only surefire starters. Who's gonna get the other two spots?

My best guess is:

Russell/Schroder
Reaves/Beasley/Walker
Lebron/Hachimura/Christie
Vanderbilt/Hachimura
Davis/Bamba/Gabriel

I think we definitely should prioritize getting another big 3D wing via the buyout market. I think we're set on the guards and good on the bigs if Davis can stay healthy. But another big wing who can guard the Durants/Kawhis/Georges/Lukas of the west is necessary.

Has Dlo's defense improved. From glancing at the the wolves box scores from time to time, it looks like they would sit dlo at the end of games at times

He can sit at times here as well in favor of Schroder. But I definitely see him starting.

Schroder's gonna take the Westbrook role as the 6th man most likely.

He can be hidden a little bit if you start Reaves. I think the Davis/Vando frontcourt is a top 3 defensive big tandem in the league, only the Cavs and maybe Memphis with JJJ/Adams can match those two.

Problem is going to be on the perimeter but a healthy Reaves can hold his own and defend a little bit.

It'll be
D'Lo/Schroder
Rui/Reaves/Beasley/Walker
LeBron/Beasley/Rui
Davis/Vanderbilt/Gabriel
Vanderbilt/Bamba/Davis

At least at first... But there are a lot of questions there that are going to need a few practices/games to answer...

Man, the Lakers are actually… Deep. I can’t remember the last time I could say that. Plus potentially adding Kevin Love via the buyout market, we may actually have a team that doesn’t completely crumble whenever Lebron or AD aren’t out there.

How does beasley compare to Lonnie?

heezyo2o wrote:How does beasley compare to Lonnie?

Pretty comparable, Beasley is just more of a three point threat. I wouldn’t rate either player very highly over the other.

Maybe Lebron goes back to playing point?

Bamba - Vanderbilt - Gabriel
Davis - Rui
Reaves - Brown Jr - Christie
Russell - Beasley - Walker
Lebron - Schröder

I wish we had found a trade for Walker for a wing.

Gonna be ad at the 5 for sure. Ham isn’t deviating from that, he’s fixated on it.

That leaves

Russell
Beasely
Lbj
Hachimura/vandy
Ad

I think the only toss up is at the 4 bw those two guys and ham might even switch it based on defensive vs offensive needs. I lean Hachimura bc I haven’t seen Vanderbilt play tbh and I like the spacing Hachimura gives us from the mid range. Beasely absolutely has to start. He’s an elite 3 point shooter who can defend. He should be on the court when lebron is on the court.

Bench is gonna be
Schroeder
Lonnie /reaves
Tbj
Hachimura/vandy
Bamba

heezyo2o wrote:Has Dlo's defense improved. From glancing at the the wolves box scores from time to time, it looks like they would sit dlo at the end of games at times

he here to back up Schroeder for the most part and hit open shot

this move will make the lakers better literally by pushing the guys they already have to play better. Reeves should be more productive and ad should really be. hopefully they can be hitting big shots by April. the new guys including run

I'm stunned Lonnie is still on the roster. That must be a Klutch thing.

If I was the coach, here's my roster:

PG: Russell/Schroder/
SG: Beasley/Reaves/Lonnie/Christie/Reed
SF: LeBron/Rui/Brown Jr
PF: Vanderbilt/Gabriel/
C: Davis/Bamba

The ones who play:

LeBron (34 MPG), AD (34 MPG), Reaves (28 MPG), Beasley (25 MPG), Russell (25 MPG), Vanderbilt (25 MPG), Rui (25 MPG), Schroder (15 MPG), Bamba (15 MPG)

The next ones in (injury): Brown Jr (G/F), Gabriel (F/C), Lonnie (G)

Who I THINK will play:

Schroder, Russell, Rui, LeBron, AD with Reaves, Beasley, Brown Jr, Vanderbilt, Bamba off the bench.

ROballer wrote:Now that the deadline has finally passed, we're going to go forward with the following roster barring a buyout signing in the close future.

D'Angelo Russell
Dennis Schroder
Scotty Pippen Jr.
Austin Reaves
Lonnie Walker
Max Christie
Malik Beasley
Troy Brown Jr.
Cole Swider
Rui Hachimura
Lebron James
Jarred Vanderbilt
Anthony Davis
Wenyen Gabriel
Mo Bamba

We have some question marks, I think Russell, Lebron and Davis are the only surefire starters. Who's gonna get the other two spots?

My best guess is:

Russell/Schroder
Reaves/Beasley/Walker
Lebron/Hachimura/Christie
Vanderbilt/Hachimura
Davis/Bamba/Gabriel

I think we definitely should prioritize getting another big 3D wing via the buyout market. I think we're set on the guards and good on the bigs if Davis can stay healthy. But another big wing who can guard the Durants/Kawhis/Georges/Lukas of the west is necessary.

You're missing Davon Reed. We currently have 1 open roster spot.

heezyo2o wrote:How does beasley compare to Lonnie?

My both are defensive sieves, couldn't guard a rocking chair, Beasley is more of a microwave, hell score in bursts and can catch fire, while Lonnie won't force it as much.

Neither should start for a team that's looking to make a deep run, however, and not much of a difference as far as who's better.

ejftw wrote:

heezyo2o wrote:How does beasley compare to Lonnie?

My both are defensive sieves, couldn't guard a rocking chair, Beasley is more of a microwave, hell score in bursts and can catch fire, while Lonnie won't force it as much.

Neither should start for a team that's looking to make a deep run, however, and not much of a difference as far as who's better.

Yeah, I'd use both of those for bench scoring or unclog line ups that need offense and start Reaves instead.

Showtime:Part2 wrote:Gonna be ad at the 5 for sure. Ham isn’t deviating from that, he’s fixated on it.

That leaves

Russell
Beasely
Lbj
Hachimura/vandy
Ad

I think the only toss up is at the 4 bw those two guys and ham might even switch it based on defensive vs offensive needs. I lean Hachimura bc I haven’t seen Vanderbilt play tbh and I like the spacing Hachimura gives us from the mid range. Beasely absolutely has to start. He’s an elite 3 point shooter who can defend. He should be on the court when lebron is on the court.

Bench is gonna be
Schroeder
Lonnie /reaves
Tbj
Hachimura/vandy
Bamba

PG: D Lo / Reaves / Schroeder
SG: Beasely / Lonnie / Reaves
SF: LBJ / Hachimura / Christie
PF: Vanderbilt / Brown Jr / Hachimura
C: AD / Bamba / Gabriel

… might be what’s expected, roughly?

I’d play D Lo at SG from day one. He plays handcuffed at PG, free at SG. We have LBJ, Reaves, Schroeder, AD and more who can all competently handle initiating the offense.

EDIT: Starting AD at C is a coach’s dream, and a sure fire way of getting AD injured. Hmm. Coach knew but did this anyway. So, I’d start him at PF and run with Bamba as starting C. Switching on D is an option but AD playing in the post only, on both ends(!), spells street clothes.

Davis/Bamba/Vanderbilt/Gabriel
Hachimura/Vanderbilt/Lebron
Lebron/Hachimura/Reaves/Brown
Beasley/Walker/Reaves/Christie
Russell/Schroder/Reaves

If I was the coach I would start Davis and Bamba together. I miss the days when Davis was next to a big like McGee, Howard, Gasol or even Drummond and finished the game at C. Knowing Ham's tendencies I doubt it ever happens. What I would do:

G - Russell | Dennis
G - Beasley | Lonnie | Max
F - James | Austin | Troy
F - AD | Rui
C - Bamba | Vanderbilt | Gabriel

Finish the game with Russell, Beasley, Austin, LeBron, AD.

Rui is not a starting guy for this team.. He can't shoot the 3 well nor defend. You can't have both those things right now in a starter.

And with Russell/James/Davis starting, and possibly even Beasley if you prefer him to Reaves...he's not gonna get enough touches to make a difference if he starts.

We need a garbage man who does the dirty work if you start those 4. There is only one basketball around.
Vanderbilt is the perfect glue guy. Guy who will defend and rebound and who doesn't ask for touches offensively.

Rui is better suited off the bench with Schroder, providing a spark scoring wise when either Lebron or Davis sit.

You can't play 5 offensive guys at once and then have none on the bench when they take a breather.



In other news, Will Barton is resolving a buyout with the Wizards. I would absolutely love to sign him, he's 6'6 with some length, we need a good wing who can hit the 3 and defend.

I think we are sleeping on Reed a little. Cranjis posted some interesting number on him. He seems like a guy who played well in spot minutes last year than got buried in the depth chart this year. I wouldn't be shocked if he takes Walkers minutes.