With week one of Lakers training camp underway, much has been made over who the team’s starters will be. Aside from LeBron James and Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves are the confirmed starters in the backcourt. That leaves a forward slot open for LA, one that could be filled by various worthy candidates.
The Athletic’s Jovan Buha noted that Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt and Taurean Prince are the team’s three options:
“The Lakers have been mixing up their lineups in scrimmages, experimenting with different players at small forward. Vanderbilt was the primary fifth starter on the first day, with Prince being more involved with the starters on the second day, according to team sources. Hachimura, who entered camp as the favorite for the position given his considerable playoff progress, is expected to get a serious shot in camp as well.”
What do each of them bring to the table, and how will their skills complement the rest of the Lakers’ starters?
Who Should be the Lakers’ Fifth Starter?
Rui Hachimura
Despite a hefty payday in free agency, that alone should not guarantee a starting spot for Rui Hachimura. Rui said he’s willing to do whatever is asked of him this season, telling reporters: “Playing time is more important. I want to finish the game.”
While there’s little doubt he can thrive as a closer, his stats as a starter are impressive. In nine games with the first unit last season, Hachimura averaged 11.2 points and 5.9 rebounds on 47% shooting from the field and 40% from three.
Looking at the bigger picture, though, Hachimura is a skilled shooter and three-level scorer. He made 50% of his midrange attempts last season (45% in the playoffs). His offense has shined in any situation, and it’s allowed the Lakers to succeed whenever he is on the floor.
Hachimura is also a stifling defender. At one point after the All-Star break, his defensive rating was on par with wings such as Kawhi Leonard, Lu Dort, Aaron Gordon. Though he ultimately finished with a rating of 110.3 after the break, Hachimura showed signs as a net positive on defense. He accounted for 24.4% of LA’s blocks and held opponents to an average of 23.6 points in the paint.
Throughout training camp, Rui has made it a point to become more aggressive at the rim, adding to his offensive repertoire. Pairing it with the paint dominance of LeBron and AD could bode very well for the Lakers.
Rui Hachimura:
"I know I've got mid-range, but I'm trying to be more aggressive on the rim. I've been working out a lot. … My body got stronger. I'm just trying to get more easy points."
Say Less, Rui:pic.twitter.com/maIDgP4UJx
— Lakers Legacy (@LakersLegacyPod) October 5, 2023
Taurean Prince
Taurean Prince makes sense as a Lakers starter given his stellar sharpshooting. Regarded as a 3-and-D wing, Prince is a career 37% three point shooter. He averaged 9.1 points on .467/.381/.844 splits last season. In 222 career games as a starter, Prince put up a modest 12.9 points while shooting 37.6% from distance.
Despite his role player numbers, Prince has had several breakout performances. Back in May, he finished with 35 points (including a career-high eight triples) in a 140-134 win over the Knicks.
Breaking his perimeter shooting down further, Prince shot 43.4% on corner threes and 34.5% above the break—a positive preview of what’s to come in purple and gold. In terms of catch-and-shoot plays—essential for any LeBron-led team—Prince has excelled. He made 41% of his catch-and-shoot field goals last season, and notched the same percentage from three.
Aside from his perimeter marksmanship, Prince plays respectable defense. At 6-foot-7 with a near 7-foot wingspan, he has the tools to make a sizable impact on that end of the floor. Though he could improve as a rebounder and decision-maker, Prince is still a safe choice to join LA’s first five.
If the Lakers are looking to capitalize on shooting with their starters, Prince may be their guy. He can thrive next to skilled playmakers in James, Davis, Russell and Reaves, filling a hole the Lakers left open for years.
Jarred Vanderbilt
Finally, if the starting lineup needs scrappy defense with occasional floor spacing, look no further than Jarred Vanderbilt. As mentioned previously, Vando made a name for himself as a willing, versatile defender who frequently challenged the league’s best.
Vanderbilt made a dent in the Lakers’ rotation early, playing elite defense on Luka Doncic when the Lakers and Mavericks faced each other in February. His ability to succeed both on and off the ball and guarding 1-4 has led to favorable outcomes—even against NBA stars. It’s clear that defense is Vando’s calling card, and he will only get better as the season opener gets closer. As the saying goes, “Defense wins championships.”
Offensively, Vanderbilt went for easier looks in the paint—shooting 38% in the non-restricted area—but he managed to become an adequate corner-three shooter. Vando shot 28 of 82 (34.1%) from the corners, but found more success on the right side (23 of 58, 39.7%). He has committed to growing on offense, enhancing his skill set and value to the Lakers.
Jarred Vanderbilt is a high-level defender with continued offensive upside. Whether his growth is enough to earn him a starting spot remains to be seen.
The Last Word on the Lakers’ Fifth Starter
Of all of these options, Rui Hachimura should be the team’s starter. At 24 years old, he has shown he can mesh well with the rest of the Lakers’ regulars, and can provide a scoring boost when needed. He has also gone toe-to-toe with top forwards, and his lockdown capabilities have been a welcome addition to the roster.
Prince and Vanderbilt make their impacts on the offensive and defensive ends, respectively, and there will be certain lineups that fit their strengths better than others. However, if LA wants a well-rounded player who has proven himself next to LeBron and AD, Hachimura is the perfect fit.
