The Los Angeles Lakers made huge splashes this offseason with their several transactions. But the Lakers did not have a great preseason. Now, the Lakers will have to put aside any concerns as they open the regular season on Tuesday on the road against the defending NBA champions, the Denver Nuggets.
Los Angeles Lakers Rumors: Roster, Big Men Roles & Injuries
Los Angeles went 2-4 in the preseason, losing their last three contests. While the games were just exhibition contests, a few things had to be concerning for the Lakers, who got off to a slow start last season. The Lakers went 1-6 in the preseason last year.
Defense has to be LA’s biggest concern entering the season. The Lakers gave up 120 or more points in four of their six contests, allowing an average of nearly 116 a game. They ranked 25th in defensive ranking. While the Lakers weren’t very good defensively, part of the reason was that they played at a blistering pace (108.1 possessions) and turned the ball over 18.1% of their possessions offensively.
The Lakers had 14 players with a negative plus/minus rating. Christian Wood and Cam Reddish were the worst and most concerning at -9.7 and -17.0.
Injuries are also a potential concern for the Lakers. However, on a positive note, D’Angelo Russell, Anthony Davis, and Taurean Prince looked good during preseason action.
The Starters and Injuries
Los Angeles’ roster is much more talented and deeper than a season ago. Still, the Lakers’ success will depend on the health and productivity of LeBron James and Davis. The Lakers appear content to head into the regular season with 17 players, including three on two-way contracts. Expect them to add another player later in the season.
While talking about the Lakers opening night opponent, the Nuggets, Darvin Ham revealed to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin that Prince will be the Lakers’ fifth starter. Not sure if this is just for one game or a few. Ham called
Prince replaces Jarred Vanderbilt, who started 24 of his 26 regular season appearances for the Lakers last season, in the lineup. But the 29-year-old forward has started 222 times in his career and had an outstanding preseason contest. He averaged 9.3 points on 55.9% shooting from the field and made 1.8 treys at a 48.5% clip. Prince also recorded a +3.3 plus/minus rating.
Ham called Prince’s start “circumstantial” because Vanderbilt is day-to-day with a heel injury and will likely not be available for the season opener.
Rui Hachimura was also a candidate to start. Hachimura averaged 10.5 points and grabbed 4.0 rebounds while posting a shooting slash line of .455/.333/.889. But he only posted a -2.0 plus/minus rating.
The following was The Athletic’s Jovan Buha’s evaluation of each candidate.
“Each candidate has a different argument. Of the three, Vanderbilt is the best perimeter defender, which the starters clearly need, and adds solid rebounding and infectious energy. Hachimura is sturdy and athletic, capable of finishing in the paint and midrange areas while also defending bigs. Prince is the best shooter by a significant margin, an important box to check in a James-Davis frontcourt.”
Gabe Vincent has been dealing with back tightness but has been cleared to play in the opener tweeted Jovan Buha of The Athletic. Vincent played in three of the Lakers’ six preseason games but had been out since October 12 with a back ailment.
Jarred Vanderbilt (left heel soreness) is day-to-day, per Darvin Ham. Gabe Vincent is cleared to play on opening night in Denver. Jalen Hood-Schifino is still being evaluated.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) October 21, 2023
Jalen Hood-Schifino missed the Lakers’ final two preseason knees with a right knee contusion. However, the rookie has much to learn before becoming a contributor.
Projecting Rotation
- LeBron James: With James turning 39 at the end of the calendar, expect Ham to limit his court time, whether having him sit out games or reduce his minutes. Expect him to be on the court 32-33 minutes a game.
- Anthony Davis: Davis is the key for the Lakers. He should play around 35 minutes a game.
- D’Angelo Russell: Russell should see a few more minutes than last season for the Lakers. Expect him to see between 30-33 minutes a game.
- Austin Reaves: Reaves saw 30+ minutes a game 27 times last season, and he only started the games on 22 occassions. 30 minutes a game with a chance that increases to 33 in games James, Russell, or James are out.
- Taurean Prince: Prince appears to be a part-time or emergency starter. He will likely see between 20-22 minutes a contest.
- Rui Hachimura: Hachimura will play a significant role off the bench, seeing between 25-28 minutes.
- Gabe Vincent: Vincent is the Lakers third guard. Should see between 20-22 minutes off the bench.
- Jarred Vanderbilt: Vanderbilt will likely see about 20 minutes a game, whether he starts or comes off the bench.
- Max Christie: Christie will see about 10 minutes a game when he plays.
- Christian Wood: It will be interesting to see how much Wood plays when Davis and James are healthy. Wood can score, but his defense is a major issue.
- Jaxson Hayes: Hayes played well enough during the preseason for Khobi Price of the Orange County Register to believe he deserves regular playing time consideration. Hayes averaged 5.8 points on 86.7% shooting from the field and 3.8 rebounds in 16.1 minutes of action.
“He was phenomenal,” Davis said of Hayes. “Catching in the pocket and making the right plays, finishing, protecting the rim, everything that we want out of him and more. Hustling. Things that can (be) better. But for the most part, he was phenomenal.”
12. Cam Reddish: Reddish won’t see much time unless there are injuries to players ahead of him.
13. Maxwell Lewis: Lewis will likely spend most of the season with South Bay of the G-League.
14. Jalen Hood-Schifino: Hood-Schifino will likely spend most of the season with South Bay.
15. Colin Castleton: 2-Way
16. Alex Fudge: 2-Way
17. D’Moi Hodge: 2-Way
