Who should be our regular season starters?

[Jack Bauer]

Currently Randle >>> Ingram

Wasn't a big fan of Randle but he's clearly outplaying Ingram by a mile. Randle in the starting line up for rebounds because Lopez/Ingram aren't going to rebound.

Lopez
Randle
Kuzma
Pope
Ball

[TheHartBreakKid]

Ball
Pope
Ingram
Randle
Lopez


I think that's the projected starting lineup, and I really do think it's the best starting lineup, maybe not entirely from a basketball stance, but what I think is better for our team when you factor in player development, player values, etc.


Ball is a no brainer, and imo so is Pope and Lopez.

The issues come regarding Ingram, and whether he is ready to be a starter, and Randle, and whether there are better options on the bench.

I think both these guys need to start, not just because of a pure basketball point of view, but also because of their current situations as young players and our plans as a team.

Ingram- Ingram needs to start, because i believe he is in a very sensitive area regarding his confidence. I think with a less patient coach, Ingram could have already been in a dangerous place after his horrible start last year. Luckily Luke stuck with him, and he finished the season way better. I also think he worked really hard this offseason, and is unfortunately not as improved as he thinks he is, or he expected himself to be. Going to the bench will crush his confidence imo. I think the best approach with him is starting him, but not hesitating to sub him out if he is underperforming. I also don't see Ingram playing better with the bench in comparison to the starters. Ingram right now needs to be a catch and shoot, or catch and attack player on offense, and the starting lineup with Lonzo gives him the best chance to do that. This potential iso- go to scorer narrative for Ingram needs to go imo. It's toxic for his developement. I said this when he was drafted, and many people argued with me about it here. I said he needs a slow, deliberately planned k.leonard type progression, with emphasis on defensive effort and simple plays on offense in his early years. Playing on the bench will only reinforce his tendency to try to become the next KD. He isn't a go to scorer. He may never be a go to scorer. Our best hopes for him becoming a go to scorer is the PG13 or Leonard route. Slow progression every year offensively, with him earning his minutes on the defensive end and as a smart role player on offense early on.

Lastly, moving Ingram to the bench isn't the best sign for potential free agents coming here to play with Lonzo and Ingram, which has been all our FO has preached regarding our plans next year. A second year Lonzo isn't enough to attract free agents. We need Ingram showcase, so he can atleast be a good potential trade piece in a team trying to win next year.


Randle- I've said Randle needs to be traded many times, but of course, this is assuming that he is still on the roster. In that case, I believe he needs to start until he is traded, or until the trade deadline passes. Benching him simply ensures he loses his already low value in terms of bringing an asset back. Not to mention, in a world where we strike out in FA and decide to keep him, we need to know what we are getting, and how well he fits next to Lonzo. This year, or half year, is his last chance, and I want to see him showcased as well as possible. I also think he benefits immensely from playing next to Lonzo and Lopez, while moving him to the bench sets him up for a situation to fail as the primarily offensive option. Expect poor spacing, and clumsy iso/post possessions from Randle in that role....while with Lopez he gets the space he needs to operate, and with Lonzo he gets the chance to do what he does best, which is run the floor, and be in positions to attack the basket before the defense is set, or to set teammates up in the fast break.




I love Kuzma, I really do. I think he is the future at the 4 for us, and I hope to see him get as many minutes as possible even it means we give up on getting Deng's value to rise, or we prioritize him over Nance at the backup 4, or over Zubac with Nance moving to the backup 5 just to give Kuz more minutes.

That said, he is signed for 4 years, and there is no rush regarding him. He also fits in very well with both the starters and the bench, while Ingram and randle don't, imo. Kuzma off the bench is both a solid scoring option and an energy boost. Kuzma as a starter is a great floor spacer and transition finisher. Both cases have value, and I think he is good enough to have a very good rookie year either way if we find him the minutes, with him ready to start next year depending on how free agency goes. I also think he should be finishing games if Ingram or Randle are underperforming. That said, his best role for this reason given our current roster is still off the bench imo.



My rough outline for a 10 man rotation is this:

PG- Lonzo- 32- Ennis-12- Clarkson- 4
SG: Pope-32- Clarkson 16
SF: Ingram- 30- Kuz- 18 (Kuz mainly playing the 3 when Deng is at the 4)
PF: Randle- 26- Deng- 14- Kuz 8
C: Lopez- 28- Nance- 16- Randle-4


Obviously there are some obvious flaws:

Larry is only playing Center. That means that when Larry is at the 5, you need Randle in at the 4 at the very least to provide rebounding.

Kuz is playing majority the 3- I hate Kuz playing the 3, but I rather have him play the 3 than Deng. Though I would want Deng in at the 4 the majority of Kuz's time at the 3. With Kuz and Deng, you have enough spacing and foot speed to get away with one of them playing the 3, but with Kuz and Randle, the spacing will be crap. Deng shouldn't get a single minute at the 3, period.

I also don't mind clarkson getting more of Ennis' minutes. Ennis is underwhelming to me. I think i might prefer Carusso honestly. Clarkson can't play defense in either guard position, but I think he can agressively play the one if you surround him with other players who can handle the ball (Randle and Ingram).

[RingsDontLie]

^I thought Ennis has been playing well actually. I like him as the backup but I can see your point about having Clarkson start...sometimes the offense looks really stagnant and Clarkson can bail us out at times. As for Kuzma, also disagree with that, I think we should start him even if that means he takes Ingram or Randle's spot. Let's showcase the kid, I think he's our best player right now. Maybe when Ingram gets going who knows, but we should see what Kuzma can do this season and give him quality, starting minutes.

[Spens1]

Honestly

Lopez-Kuzma-Ingram-Pope-Ball

Though Deng should get significant minutes (if not just to boost his value to neutral so we can deal him off at deadline for an expiring).

Kuzma has been our best player in preseason and the rest i think pick themselves.

[DS17]

ball pope deng kuzma lopez

or ball pope kuzma randle lopez

[dAdo dA dEvil]

Ball
Pope
Ingram
Kuzma
Lopez

[Penberthy]

I think what's more important than who starts is the minute distribution. We want to pump up Randle Clarkson and Dengs value, might as well give them the majority of their minutes against the other team's' back ups.

Before deadline
Ball (30) Clarkson (18) Ennis
KCP (32) Clarkson (16) Hart
Ingram (28) Deng (20) Brewer
Kuzma (16) Randle (32) Nance
Lopez (24) Bogut (14) Zubac (10) Bryant

Pipedream deadline:

Clarkson for expiring and pick
Randle Deng Zubac for expiring

After deadline minutes
Ball (32) Ennis (16)
KCP (32) Hart (16)
Ingram (30) Brewer (18)
Kuzma (24) Nance (24)
Lopez (24) Bogut (24) Bryant

[dockingsched]

It’s starting to get comical how people think Randle can simultaneously be a dead end with no future with the team while also having so much value that a team would take on Deng for him. Pick a side.

[ISayshowmee]

randle's jumper looks more reliable than ingrams

but we also need ingrams good defense

this dilemma sucks

We are doomed if Brickhouse Randle has a better jumper than Ingram's.

[stan francisco]

See sig. as much as I want Kuzma to start, not happening since Randle is being showcased. I still see Kuzma getting 28-30 minutes.

It could be good for Kuzma to play against benches for a while to keep his confidence unchanged. After Christmas, he will be our starter. Hopefully we will have made a move before that.

[Laker_Kid]

Lopez
Deng
Kuzma
KCP
Ball

Randle JC Nance off the bench

[RingsDontLie]

randle's jumper looks more reliable than ingrams

but we also need ingrams good defense

this dilemma sucks

We are doomed if Brickhouse Randle has a better jumper than Ingram's.

No he just really improved his shot imo. Looks softer now.

[Laker_Kid]

if summer league/preseason was an audition for choosing starters, i’d say:

Lopez > Zubac
Randle > Nance
Kuzma > Ingram
KCP = JC
Ball > Caruso > Ennis

But as i already posted, I’d start Deng because i feel like he brings a stability like Lopez does at their position as vets. and he’s really not a 3 anymore.

[milesfides]

This season should be about generating assets ...

Lonzo Ball, increasing the values of:
KCP
Deng
Randle
Lopez

(Clarkson - 6th man)

[cashflo]

This season should be about generating assets ...

Lonzo Ball, increasing the values of:
KCP
Deng
Randle
Lopez

(Clarkson - 6th man)

Not a bad idea..

[cashflo]

Im thinking

Brook
Nance
Kuz
Clarkson
Ball

Randle, Ingram, Pope bench guys...

This lineup features more mature players with the best scoring ability. Ingram has to sit and mature... and play the second units right now.
Randle would be nice if the bench,like Draymond...also I like how he plays at the 5.
Pope bringing D and intensity off the bench is perfect.

[cashflo]

Im thinking

Brook
Nance
Kuz
Clarkson
Ball

Randle, Ingram, Pope bench guys...

This lineup features more mature players with the best scoring ability. Ingram has to sit and mature... and play the second units right now.
Randle would be nice if the bench,like Draymond...also I like how he plays at the 5.
Pope bringing D and intensity off the bench is perfect.

Also the All Star light skin line up

[MadNESS]

It SHOULD be

Ball / PG / Ingram / Kuzma / Lopez

But Magic had to tamper and piss off Pritchard causing Indiana to take a stupid deal just because.....

[LALifer49]

Ball
KCP
Ingram/Randle (either Ingram at 3 or Randle at 4)
Kuzma
Lopez

This lineup is not good defensively...but it is realllll good offensively. It has legit 3 pt shooters at 4/5 positions, and if we go with ingram starting and he figures out how to hit a shot, then all 5 positions have good 3 pt shooters. Having so many shooters is great for Ball. Meanwhile having so many shooters will also provide tons of space for Randle or Ingram, whichever of the 2 we go with, spacing will be huge for them. I think if Ingram doesn't show a lot more than he has I'd go with Randle, because we desperately need rebounding in that lineup (and some more muscle wouldn't hurt), and I don't mind letting Ingram slow down a bit and develop on the bench (provided he doesn't showcase a lot more soon)

[OzCastiel]

It's kind of a joke that people are putting BI over Kuz and Randle at this point. He's yet to shown he can be better than either he needs to wake the hell up and show some progress