The Los Angeles Lakers are trying to solve a good problem to have: an abundance of talent across the five positions. While it’s likely that the guard rotation is set in stone—apart from a starting point guard battle between D’Angelo Russell and Gabe Vincent—the frontcourt rotation behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis is not.
The Athletic’s Jovan Buha touched on the complications for the Lakers following Wood’s arrival. The main issue is a matter of playing time between plenty of standout forwards:
“There are only 144 frontcourt minutes available for Davis, James, Hachimura, Wood, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jaxson Hayes and Taurean Prince, and that’s before factoring in smaller lineups that would involve Austin Reaves or Max Christie sliding up to play small forward.”
Though some roles may be more defined than others, Darvin Ham still has the tough task of determining who gets more opportunities than others, as well as where he can slot in some of the young guys so they get meaningful minutes. Here’s a positional breakdown of the battles to watch between LA’s forwards and centers.
Lakers Rotation Battles: Figuring Out the Frontcourt
Small Forward: Taurean Prince vs Cam Reddish vs Max Christie
Though there has been speculation of whether Cam Reddish or Max Christie will earn a spot in the rotation, it’s important to consider how veteran Taurean Prince will be in the mix. Prince averaged 22 minutes per game at his last stop in Minnesota, and he’s averaged nearly 24 minutes per game through his seven-year career. Christie—who averaged 12.5 minutes as a rookie—has shown tremendous growth over Summer League. He’s vying for a more consistent role while filling the Lakers’ needs of a young 3-and-D guard/wing. And Reddish is hungry to prove that he can stick around in the rotation and build on the momentum he created with the Portland Trail Blazers. In 20 games (12 starts), the 23-year-old averaged 11 points per game on 44/31/83 splits in 27.6 minutes per contest.
Overall, the Lakers have three talented wings to back up James. All have similar skill sets but bring something unique to the table. Prince excels as a three-point shooter, Christie has improved as a playmaker and driver, and Reddish’s athleticism is off the charts. Their skills will certainly be tested once training camp comes.
Power Forward: Rui Hachimura vs. Jarred Vanderbilt
Two prominent starters at various points throughout the year, Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt will have their roles altered next season.
According to Buha, Hachimura is expected to start next to James and Davis—not surprising after his three-year, $51 million payday. Whether he plays small or power forward is another question, a nod to his versatility. In nine regular season starts for the Lakers, Hachimura put up 11.2 points on 46.9% shooting from the field and 40% from three.
Vanderbilt, a forward-center who excelled on defense, showed flashes of offensive growth when he joined the Lakers. Vando averaged 7.2 points and 6.7 rebounds in 26 games (24 starts) for LA. He also hit the corner three at a 31 percent clip. His minutes decreased in the playoffs, but his productivity was decent (4.6 PPG and 3.2 RPG in 16.5 MPG).
Though Rui and Vando look to play prominent roles in the Lakers’ rotation, the team must determine the best situations for each player and the lineups that allow them to thrive.
Center: Christian Wood vs. Jaxson Hayes
Even though Davis desires a move back to power forward, the biggest question—both literally and figuratively—is how to find the right balance between Christian Wood and Jaxson Hayes. Wood, a known contributor for rebuilding teams, is set to be the first big off the bench. There’s also a chance he could start next to Davis in certain situations. Buha also reported that Wood may be key as an insurance big if injuries arise:
“When Davis misses time, which is seemingly inevitable, Wood can step in and assume a greater offensive role. (The same applies to when James misses time, though Wood’s game is much closer to Davis’.) Wood can assume 20-plus percent usage and produce 20-point, 10-rebound performances. Remember some of those gaudy Thomas Bryant stat lines from last season when Davis was injured? Wood can replicate that and more.”
Hayes, on the other hand, could have been the first big off the bench—or even a starter next to AD—before Wood came along. Now, he’ll be part of the third unit, a role he grew comfortable with in New Orleans. Hayes’s athleticism and two-way play will be key for the Lakers. Exercising his energy in spurts will prove worthwhile for them.
Starting Lineup Options
The Lakers have a multitude of options for starters, filling in the gaps around James, Davis and Austin Reaves. With that in mind, it’s worth noting that the purple and gold have two plausible lineups that could appear at various points throughout the season.
Option 1: Davis at Center
PG: D’Angelo Russell/Gabe Vincent
SG: Austin Reaves
SF: Rui Hachimura
PF: LeBron James
C: Anthony Davis
Option 2: Two-Big Lineup
PG: D’Angelo Russell/Gabe Vincent
SG: Austin Reaves
SF: LeBron James
PF: Anthony Davis
C: Christian Wood
The first lineup is a continuation from last season. Even though these five players hardly shared the court together (one of Vanderbilt or Dennis Schröder made an appearance instead), each player maximizes the team in his own way, and there’s no reason to doubt they can gel immediately.
The second option, the long-coveted two-big lineup, introduces Wood into the fold. His aforementioned offensive versatility will be essential next to James and Davis. His offense will soar with the facilitating of Reaves and Russell (or Vincent).
Buha broke down just how effective Christian Wood can be in LA’s offense:
“Wood is one of the league’s more skilled scoring bigs. He’s a weapon as a catch-and-shoot and pick-and-pop threat. He shot 41.8 percent on catch-and-shoot 3s last season, an elite mark for any player, and especially for a center.
His shooting ability makes him a natural pick-and-roll partner in two-man actions with James, Reaves, Russell and Gabe Vincent. The Lakers haven’t had a big with this type of shooting proficiency in years. With a properly spaced floor, Wood can feast against defenders sagging off of him.”
All in all, the Lakers have a couple of solid options for starting lineups. However, the production of their bench is equally vital. They will undoubtedly have to step up if key players miss time.
The Last Word
The Lakers have a wealth of talent in their rotation, filling a valuable supporting cast behind James and Davis. Darvin Ham and his coaching staff will observe them closely in camp, deciding who gets more prominent roles and the potential to be inserted as a starter.
