Who would you start to try and make the playoffs.

[RingsDontLie]

If developing players during the season was the least of the concern, and winnings games was the primary concern, who would you start? This would be my line up just after watching summer league. I threw Boozer in there for scoring, and Upshaw will help provide some much needed defense in that 2nd unit.

Starting:

Russel - PG
Lou Williams - SG
Hibbert - C
Bryant - SF
Bass - PF

2nd unit:

Clarkson - PG
Jabari Brown - SG
Upshaw - C
Young - SF
Randle - PF (Fixed...)

[SlimShady83]

Winning games this season is what the Lakers are all about - Lakers are a "Win Now Team" They will find a way to develop their current young players I'm sure about that.

PG: Clarkson
SG: Young <<< keep Young hungry and happy, while he does better on bench, we now have lou who'll help 6th man, we also need either lou or young to start to help prevent teams from double teaming KOBe all the time

SF: Kobe
PF: Bass
C: Hibbert

Edit: are you a Laker fan? You have Boozer in your lineup but not Randle?

[Sofa King]

Westbrook
Kobe
Durant
Bass
Hibbert

[Dr Aki]

Westbrook
Kobe
Durant
Bass
Hibbert

9th seed

[aaron_gray]

Westbrook
Kobe
Durant
Bass
Hibbert

9th seed

lmao, way too optimistic

[DEEP3CL]

OP....Boozer will not be signed, why even list him ?

[Laker_Kid]

OP....Boozer will not be signed, why even list him ?

i dont think he's aware of it.

[Penberthy]

PG: Russell (30) Clarkson (18) Andre Miller
SG: Clarkson (14) Lou (26) Jabari (8)
SF: Kobe (30) Young (18) Nance A Brown
PF: Bass (20) Randle (28) Kelly
C: Hibbert (28) Black (20) Upshaw

[Marionettetc]

Starting:

Russel S - PG
Lou Reed - SG
Hibbert - C
Bryant - SF
Kemp - PF

2nd unit:

Sun Yue - PG
J. Lin - SG
Bynum - C
Boozer - SF
Odom - PF

[hazy_01]

Starting:

Russel S - PG
Lou Reed - SG
Hibbert - C
Bryant - SF
Kemp - PF

2nd unit:

Sun Yue - PG
J. Lin - SG
Bynum - C
Boozer - SF
Odom - PF

You're forgetting our two-time champion Ammo Morrison

[TylersLakers]

PG: D'Angelo Russell [30] / Jordan Clarkson [10]/ Williams [8]
SG: Jordan Clarkson [22] / Lou Williams [18]/ Bryant [8]
SF: Kobe Bryant [24]/ Nick Young [24]/
PF: Brandon Brass [22]/ Julius Randle [26]/
C: Roy Hibbert [30]/ Tarik Black [12]/ Bass [6]

To start the season. If Young continues his normal playing ways, he'll be replaced by Anthony Brown/Nance and they'll be given opportunity.

[TylersLakers]

I also have a few worries with this roster and it's totally based off injury.

If Hibbert goes down, we're left with Black/Bass/Sacre/Upshaw. Scary anyone? We have a 2.8M room exception available, and Kevin Seraphin is apparently still on the radar, do we bring him in to swallow up Black's minutes?

Also, Kobe is not going to play every game. He'll miss back to back's, what does the wing position look like then?

I really wish we could flip Kelly and Sacre for some sort of depth player on a multi year contract, someone like Jerryd Bayless or a veteran wing.

[salmahayek]

In theory, going with the best players opening night in trying to make the playoffs, I think it would look like this:

PG Clarkson
SG Bryant
SF Young
PF Bass
C Hibbert

Rotation players:

SG Williams
PG/SG Russell
PF Randle
C Black

If Kobe would stay healthy and decide to play the high basketball IQ floor game he is capable of, the Lakers could challenge for the 7th and/or 8th seed. I'd have him play some three when the team goes small, but I'd let Swaggy P handle the majority of three minutes. I think keeping Kobe out of and away from the trees may help keep him healthy and fresh.

Clarkson is not a true point guard, but we really don't have one, anyway, and Kobe has never really played well or taken advantage of the potential of a true NBA point. So, better to team him with Clarkson who is a good combo guard and could play off of Kobe pretty well. Russell could backup Clarkson and earn more minutes and depending on his development and impact, determine how much the Lakers may play small ball.

Williams is the sixth man of the year...keep him in that comfortable role and it may help him maximize his efficiency and contribution to the team.

Obviously, Hibbert is playing for a contract, either here or elsewhere, so we should see a credible, if not good, showing by him. So, we should be able to use him to set up a good half court offense with decent spacing. I think Bass and his mid-range jumper could play well off of Hibbert inside. Obviously, Hibbert needs to anchor this club defensively.

Randle would get all the minutes he earns behind or eventually in front of Bass.

Black would be the backup center with Upshaw gaining minutes as he earns them.

Ultimately, this team's potential is the 7th or 8th seed, IMO.

Now, if Kobe would play like he has a "license to gun", wins will be few and far between.

So, they may just hand the keys over to Russell and go small with Clarkson at the two and Kobe at the three with Hibbert in the middle and Randle starting at the four. I think if we do that, we won't see the playoffs, but hopefully, Russell, Randle, and even Clarkson would develop more for the future and shorten their learning curve.

If we would do that, I'm glad our pick is top-three protected and I would hope to land Ben Simmons.

Either way, we're looking to land a "big three" next summer and if Kobe isn't a part of it, I think Durant will give major consideration to choosing two other close to max players to play with here in LA with Russell, Clarkson, Randle, and possibly another lottery pick.

[Marionettetc]

I also have a few worries with this roster and it's totally based off injury.

If Hibbert goes down, we're left with Black/Bass/Sacre/Upshaw. Scary anyone? We have a 2.8M room exception available, and Kevin Seraphin is apparently still on the radar, do we bring him in to swallow up Black's minutes?

Also, Kobe is not going to play every game. He'll miss back to back's, what does the wing position look like then?

I really wish we could flip Kelly and Sacre for some sort of depth player on a multi year contract, someone like Jerryd Bayless or a veteran wing.

I don't think it's worth worrying about. 2015-2016 will be another punted season. We have like 5 rookies on our team, broken Kobe and mediocre to d-league talent otherwise. Even if Kobe was playing like he 10 years ago at 25 million, this team wouldn't go anywhere in the west.

We're also not bad enough to keep a top 3 pick this year, so I suspect this season will just be about development. If Kobe comes back at 10m or less next season and we pick up an all star maybe we can do something but I wouldn't worry about winning anytime soon.

[TylersLakers]

In theory, going with the best players opening night in trying to make the playoffs, I think it would look like this:

PG Clarkson
SG Bryant
SF Young
PF Bass
C Hibbert

Rotation players:

SG Williams
PG/SG Russell
PF Randle
C Black

If Kobe would stay healthy and decide to play the high basketball IQ floor game he is capable of, the Lakers could challenge for the 7th and/or 8th seed. I'd have him play some three when the team goes small, but I'd let Swaggy P handle the majority of three minutes. I think keeping Kobe out of and away from the trees may help keep him healthy and fresh.

Clarkson is not a true point guard, but we really don't have one, anyway, and Kobe has never really played well or taken advantage of the potential of a true NBA point. So, better to team him with Clarkson who is a good combo guard and could play off of Kobe pretty well. Russell could backup Clarkson and earn more minutes and depending on his development and impact, determine how much the Lakers may play small ball.

Williams is the sixth man of the year...keep him in that comfortable role and it may help him maximize his efficiency and contribution to the team.

Obviously, Hibbert is playing for a contract, either here or elsewhere, so we should see a credible, if not good, showing by him. So, we should be able to use him to set up a good half court offense with decent spacing. I think Bass and his mid-range jumper could play well off of Hibbert inside. Obviously, Hibbert needs to anchor this club defensively.

Randle would get all the minutes he earns behind or eventually in front of Bass.

Black would be the backup center with Upshaw gaining minutes as he earns them.

Ultimately, this team's potential is the 7th or 8th seed, IMO.

Now, if Kobe would play like he has a "license to gun", wins will be few and far between.

So, they may just hand the keys over to Russell and go small with Clarkson at the two and Kobe at the three with Hibbert in the middle and Randle starting at the four. I think if we do that, we won't see the playoffs, but hopefully, Russell, Randle, and even Clarkson would develop more for the future and shorten their learning curve.

If we would do that, I'm glad our pick is top-three protected and I would hope to land Ben Simmons.

Either way, we're looking to land a "big three" next summer and if Kobe isn't a part of it, I think Durant will give major consideration to choosing two other close to max players to play with here in LA with Russell, Clarkson, Randle, and possibly another lottery pick.

I actually wouldn't be upset with this roster. Gives the young guys (D'Angelo, Randle, Nance, Brown) a chance to ease their way into things and who knows, maybe with a veteran roster like that, we can get off to a pretty good start and keep it rolling.

Playing Russell 30+ minutes a game is great in theory, but what if he struggles adjusting?

[tugs]

Same. Starting the rooks and having them picked Top 2 and 7 as justification for starting them is premature imo. No doubt they are the future but the transition should be smooth.

Young starting with Kobe could limit his iso tendencies and "might" force him to be effective off the ball. Hey, even limit Kobe's minutes at the 2 and give Jabari Brown some burn and let the Mizzou guys do their thing.

Though playing Russell with the 2nd unit may force him to score more, having only Lou as his target, and probably Nick. Unless the bigs will play well off him. Could also be good for Randle to play in an offensive minded unit, reason same as the Nick playing with Kobe logic. More comfortable playing Russell as back up rather than Clarkson since he's more of a natural passer. Don't want Jordan, Lou, Nick, and Randle playing HORSE in the 2nd unit.

[RingsDontLie]

Winning games this season is what the Lakers are all about - Lakers are a "Win Now Team" They will find a way to develop their current young players I'm sure about that.

PG: Clarkson
SG: Young <<< keep Young hungry and happy, while he does better on bench, we now have lou who'll help 6th man, we also need either lou or young to start to help prevent teams from double teaming KOBe all the time

SF: Kobe
PF: Bass
C: Hibbert

Edit: are you a Laker fan? You have Boozer in your lineup but not Randle?

Yep, that was a mistake. Not sure what I did there

[RingsDontLie]

I also have a few worries with this roster and it's totally based off injury.

If Hibbert goes down, we're left with Black/Bass/Sacre/Upshaw. Scary anyone? We have a 2.8M room exception available, and Kevin Seraphin is apparently still on the radar, do we bring him in to swallow up Black's minutes?

Also, Kobe is not going to play every game. He'll miss back to back's, what does the wing position look like then?

I really wish we could flip Kelly and Sacre for some sort of depth player on a multi year contract, someone like Jerryd Bayless or a veteran wing.

I don't think it's worth worrying about. 2015-2016 will be another punted season. We have like 5 rookies on our team, broken Kobe and mediocre to d-league talent otherwise. Even if Kobe was playing like he 10 years ago at 25 million, this team wouldn't go anywhere in the west.

We're also not bad enough to keep a top 3 pick this year, so I suspect this season will just be about development. If Kobe comes back at 10m or less next season and we pick up an all star maybe we can do something but I wouldn't worry about winning anytime soon.

I disagree, because I feel we have a lot more talent this year. I know they are raw, but I'm banking on Russel maturing fast and becoming a star right away.

[Rafer24]

PG: D'Angelo Russell [30] / Jordan Clarkson [10]/ Williams [8]
SG: Jordan Clarkson [22] / Lou Williams [18]/ Bryant [8]
SF: Kobe Bryant [24]/ Nick Young [24]/
PF: Brandon Brass [22]/ Julius Randle [26]/
C: Roy Hibbert [30]/ Tarik Black [12]/ Bass [6]

To start the season. If Young continues his normal playing ways, he'll be replaced by Anthony Brown/Nance and they'll be given opportunity.

Like it, this is pretty accurate.

Only doubt is who will start at PF.

[Marionettetc]

I also have a few worries with this roster and it's totally based off injury.

If Hibbert goes down, we're left with Black/Bass/Sacre/Upshaw. Scary anyone? We have a 2.8M room exception available, and Kevin Seraphin is apparently still on the radar, do we bring him in to swallow up Black's minutes?

Also, Kobe is not going to play every game. He'll miss back to back's, what does the wing position look like then?

I really wish we could flip Kelly and Sacre for some sort of depth player on a multi year contract, someone like Jerryd Bayless or a veteran wing.

I don't think it's worth worrying about. 2015-2016 will be another punted season. We have like 5 rookies on our team, broken Kobe and mediocre to d-league talent otherwise. Even if Kobe was playing like he 10 years ago at 25 million, this team wouldn't go anywhere in the west.

We're also not bad enough to keep a top 3 pick this year, so I suspect this season will just be about development. If Kobe comes back at 10m or less next season and we pick up an all star maybe we can do something but I wouldn't worry about winning anytime soon.

I disagree, because I feel we have a lot more talent this year. I know they are raw, but I'm banking on Russel maturing fast and becoming a star right away.

We also lot a lot of talent in Wes, Boozer, Hill, Davis. These guys were all playing well in relation to their salaries (even Wes). It's fine to be optimistic, but you're essentially saying you expect Russell to be playing at an All-star level 10 games into the season. I think that's unrealistic.