{"id":55976,"date":"2023-10-04T10:01:51","date_gmt":"2023-10-04T14:01:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=55976"},"modified":"2023-10-04T10:01:51","modified_gmt":"2023-10-04T14:01:51","slug":"what-the-young-lakers-bring-to-a-championship-ready-roster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2023\/10\/04\/what-the-young-lakers-bring-to-a-championship-ready-roster\/","title":{"rendered":"What the Young Lakers Bring to a Championship-Ready Roster"},"content":{"rendered":"

Amid the focus surrounding <\/span>LeBron James<\/b><\/a>, <\/span>Anthony Davis<\/b><\/a> and the rest of this year\u2019s Lakers, the team also has several young players poised to make an impact. Whether it\u2019s starting games or sitting and learning on the sidelines, the Lakers have a talented young core ready to contribute when their numbers are called.<\/span><\/p>\n

*NOTE: This article excludes <\/span><\/i>Austin Reaves<\/i><\/b><\/a> and <\/span><\/i>Rui Hachimura<\/i><\/b><\/a>, mentioned in my <\/span><\/i>previous article<\/span><\/i><\/a> as potential breakout candidates.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

What the Young Lakers Bring to a Championship-Ready Roster<\/h2>\n

Max Christie<\/b><\/h3>\n

Max Christie<\/b><\/a> has been open about wanting to <\/span>be in the team\u2019s regular rotation<\/span><\/a>. He showed off his improvement in Summer League<\/a>, displaying an array of sharpshooting and playmaking skills. Now, as training camp begins, Christie has an opportunity to further his fight.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 35th pick in the 2023 Draft, Christie split time between the Lakers and their G League affiliate. He displayed his potential through it all, proving his value as a \u201c3-and-D\u201d player.<\/span><\/p>\n

Christie\u2019s potential was made even more evident after a standout Summer League. In Las Vegas, he put up 19 points per game on 45% shooting from the field and 50% from distance. His efforts earned him All Summer League Second Team honors.<\/span><\/p>\n

Christie spoke to his work over the summer and his efforts to earn rotational minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust putting as much work in as I can, both on the court and in the weight room,\u201d he <\/span>said<\/span><\/a>. \u201cAlso, mentally. If I can get my mind right, then everything physical will follow suit.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was just me trying to work as hard as I can,\u201d he continued. \u201cControl what I can control\u2014which is my work ethic and my attitude\u2014and all that work will hopefully translate into playing this year.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As it stands right now, Christie has a shot at sliding in as the backup shooting guard, unless <\/span>D\u2019Angelo Russell<\/b><\/a> switches to the two. He could also have an opportunity to play on the wing, though the team is set there with LeBron and <\/span>Taurean Prince<\/b><\/a>. Christie certainly has the tools to succeed in the Lakers\u2019 rotation. It\u2019s a matter of continually proving himself in camp and gaining the trust of Darvin Ham and his staff. Only then can his hard work truly pay off.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jarred Vanderbilt<\/b><\/h3>\n

One of the Lakers acquired at last year\u2019s trade deadline, 24-year-old forward <\/span>Jarred Vanderbilt<\/b><\/a> won over the hearts of Lakers fans with his hustle and defensive chops. Now, with a full offseason (and new extension) under his belt, Vando has a chance to enhance the team\u2019s frontcourt over the course of 82 games and beyond.<\/span><\/p>\n

Following the trade to LA, Vanderbilt averaged 7.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 24 minutes per contest in the regular season. Though postseason opportunities were hard to come by, Vanderbilt still made his presence known defensively. As part of his defensive improvements, Vanderbilt says he has worked on strength and conditioning to chase smaller guards (e.g. <\/span>Steph Curry<\/b><\/a>) around.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vanderbilt touched on the rest of his offseason work during media day.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI worked a lot on shooting, finishing, ball-handling, just touching up everything,\u201d he said. \u201cAs well as defensively, getting stronger, getting faster, getting more agile. I feel like each and every summer, I try to get better at every aspect of the game.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Vanderbilt’s shooting is a notable aspect of his improvement. Though he isn’t considered a “stretch four,” he could very well develop into one. He shot 40% from the midrange and 34% on corner triples<\/a>\u00a0last season, and there’s a good chance he could improve both marks with increased reps.<\/p>\n

Vando’s attention to detail will serve him well this season, particularly as the backup to LeBron or Hachimura. His growth on the offensive end will be vital, but he has established himself as one of the team\u2019s most reliable defenders.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jaxson Hayes<\/b><\/h3>\n

The first big man signed to complement Davis, 24-year-old <\/span>Jaxson Hayes<\/b><\/a> is ready for a larger responsibility on a brighter stage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hayes is willing to play whatever role is needed of him to help the Lakers, but one aspect he believes he can thrive in is pick-and-roll situations.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI just want to be the guy that brings a lot of energy, and being our true screen-and-roll big,\u201d Hayes said.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Lakers found plenty of success in screen-and-roll situations last year, scoring an average of 1.27 points per possession\u2014good for third in the league. They led the NBA in scoring frequency at 61.4%.<\/span><\/p>\n

Likewise, Hayes found <\/span>plenty of success<\/span><\/a> as NOLA\u2019s main roller, scoring 82% of the time and averaging 1.54 PPP. With playmakers such as LeBron, DLo, Reaves and Vincent, Hayes will continue to thrive as the roll man in LA. His athleticism will also benefit him in finishing lobs and defending the paint.<\/span><\/p>\n

No matter his role, Hayes\u2019s skill set perfectly complements those of Davis and <\/span>Christian Wood<\/b><\/a>, giving the Lakers a balanced center rotation. Now, Hayes has the chance to play in a winning rotation\u2014a challenge he\u2019ll certainly rise up to.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cam Reddish<\/b><\/h3>\n

24-year-old Cam Reddish is set to play for his fourth team in five seasons. However, it doesn\u2019t stop him from continuing to prove his worth and vying for minutes in a crowded frontcourt.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 20 games (12 starts) for the Portland Trail Blazers, he averaged 11 points per game on 44% shooting from the field and 31% from distance. That performance, coupled with LA\u2019s previous interest in him, made Reddish an ideal offseason signing for the team\u2019s wing depth.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reddish touched on his two-way versatility as a key skill to fit in with the purple and gold.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBeing able to shoot the three and drive and make plays,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd defensively, being able to guard all the positions\u2026and doing that to the best of my ability.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Though it will be difficult for him to gain significant minutes with James and Prince in front of him, Reddish can be used as a plug-and-play option. His energy and athleticism are apparent, and they are key tools next to his perimeter shooting and defense. There\u2019s also the possibility that Reddish plays with Prince in certain lineups, but it\u2019s unlikely he takes the backup wing spot over the veteran.<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether he gains consistent minutes or plays in spurts, Reddish can make a good impression on the Lakers. He has developed into a decent rotation player on younger teams, and even played well for the Hawks\u2019 2021 postseason run. Now, he has a chance to translate that development onto a championship contender, and all signs point to a bright future ahead.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Rookies: Jalen Hood-Schifino and Maxwell Lewis<\/b><\/h3>\n

Finally, the Lakers have been known for finding young talent through the draft, and they have done it again with two of their new rookies.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jalen Hood-Schifino<\/b><\/h4>\n

Jalen Hood-Schifino<\/b><\/a>\u2014LA\u2019s 17th pick\u2014is a <\/span>talented facilitator<\/span><\/a> who succeeds on both ends. One of his strongest suits is, fittingly, the pick-and-roll, which bodes well for his opportunities next to LA\u2019s three bigs. JHS showed impressive finishing and defense during <\/span>Summer League<\/span><\/a>. In six games, he averaged 13.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Hood-Schifino heads into camp, he says he\u2019s been taking advice from veteran guards in Russell, Reaves and <\/span>Gabe Vincent<\/b><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe main thing is really being all ears and all eyes,\u201d he <\/span>said<\/span><\/a>. \u201cObviously, they\u2019re all really good players. For me to come in and have those guys already here, I think it\u2019s going to be cool\u2026The main thing really is learning and finding ways to get better every single day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Maxwell Lewis<\/b><\/h4>\n

Maxwell Lewis<\/b><\/a>, the Lakers\u2019 42nd pick, comes to the team as another young wing. The 6-foot-7 forward was <\/span>a standout at Pepperdine<\/span><\/a>, and now brings his scoring ability to the Lakers. Lewis flashed his sharpshooting and defense in <\/span>Summer League<\/span><\/a>, and had glimpses of playmaking potential. Though he\u2019s part of the team\u2019s plethora of wings, he has received encouragement from his coaches and teammates.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c[Keep] it simple\u2026catch and shoot, don\u2019t hesitate and [make] less mistakes,\u201d he <\/span>said<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prioritizing his catch-and-shoot threes will be key for the Lakers, who <\/span>nailed 36.2% of those opportunities<\/span><\/a> last season (19th in the NBA). Lewis, like Hood-Schifino, enters the league with plenty of NBA-level skills. Training camp and the rest of his rookie year will be a great indicator of his strengths and weaknesses, and there\u2019s no doubt he can play meaningful minutes in the near future.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Last Word on the Young Lakers<\/b><\/h3>\n

All of these players, regardless of role, can make key contributions to the Lakers at some point this season. They have shown a willingness to grow over the summer and remain hungry for their opportunities, earning them along the way. As training camp continues and preseason looms, expect these guys to continue their work and impress everyone throughout the process.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Amid the focus surrounding LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the rest of this year\u2019s Lakers, the team also has several young players poised to make an impact. Whether it\u2019s starting games or sitting and learning on the sidelines, the Lakers have a talented young core ready to contribute when their numbers are called. *NOTE: This […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4265,"featured_media":55980,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,26,62],"tags":[1683,4907,2941,1962,4916,4829],"class_list":["post-55976","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-lakers","category-nba","tag-cam-reddish","tag-jalen-hood-schifino","tag-jarred-vanderbilt","tag-jaxson-hayes","tag-max-christie","tag-maxwell-lewis"],"modified_by":"Jordan Pagkalinawan","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55976","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4265"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55976"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55976\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/55980"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55976"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55976"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55976"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}