Who Will Start at PG for the Lakers?

At this point, the acquisitions of Jeremy Lin and rookie Jordan Clarkson appears to be an immense upgrade at the point guard position. Their youth and quickness will not only help take some pressure off Steve Nash, but also help to compete against the more prominent guards that are found throughout the entire Western Conference.

The main question is: who will be starting at the point when the season begins?

Apr 4, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Nash (10) dribbles the ball against the Dallas Mavericks at Staples Center. The Mavericks defeated the Lakers 107-95. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

When healthy, Nash has been the starter over the past few years, but it might be wise to manage his minutes and have him come off the bench. Also, odds are Nash will miss some games along the way. Over the past two seasons, Nash has only played in 65 games, so giving the lion share of the minutes to either Lin or Clarkson seems to be the more reliable course of action.

Playing behind Patrick Beverley, Lin averaged 12.5 PTS per game over 28.9 minutes this past season. Due to his time in New York, Lin has also proven that he has the demeanor and correct mindset to handle the pressure that comes along with playing in Los Angeles. The expectations for the Lakers will not be as high as they normally are, but the Lakers will surely have their fair share of attention—good or bad.

While Clarkson has impressed everyone so far in the summer league, the Lakers still need to see how he will adjust to the regular season pace. However, it’s perfectly understandable for fans to clamor after seeing Clarkson’s impressive debut in Las Vegas.

It would make sense for Lin to be the starting point guard to begin the season, but the answer probably won’t be figured out until Lakers finally decide to hire a head coach. Either way, barring injury, the Lakers certainly have depth and viable options.