Predicting Possible 2015-16 LA Lakers Starting Line-ups
There are hundreds of different possible scenarios for next year’s Lakers lineup but I’m going to stay somewhat realistic. That means two things. No Marc Gasol and the Lakers will end up with a top five pick.
There is no doubt that Gasol loves Memphis where he has spent his whole career and I can’t see any reason for him to leave. As for the draft pick, Byron Scott recently said Carlos Boozer’s minutes are likely to decrease which assures us that the Lakers are entering full tanking mode from here on out.
Let’s start out with the “worst” Lakers starting five next year:
PG-Jordan Clarkson: If Lakers fail to sign a point guard, or get a top four pick and select D’Angelo Russell or Emmanuel Mudiay, Clarkson will likely be the starting PG to start the 2015-16 season. This would give Clarkson a chance to show what he can do in a full season when the goal of each game is to actually win.
SG-Kobe Bryant: Twenty seasons in and it’s still the same at the shooting guard position. Bryant could very easily be the Lakers best player next year. Combine my extreme confidence in the Black Mamba with what Kobe revealed in his recent documentary “Muse” and I would say that he can still play at a high level next year. The athleticism is gone but knowing Bryant’s work ethic, he will continue to be a dominant low post scorer and a reliable ball handler. What I am most interested in seeing is how Bryant mentors the young players, Clarkson, Julius Randle, and this year’s draft pick on and off the court.
SF-Stanley Johnson: Here is a big example of a worst case scenario. Although the Lakers are pretty much a lock for a top-five pick, there is a decent chance that they miss out on the elite four prospects of Jahlil Okafor, Karl Anthony Towns, Russell, and Mudiay. If the Lakers were to receive the number five pick, Johnson seems like the best option at that point. Kristaps Porzingis, who has been placed in the top five in many recent mock drafts, would be a bit unlikely considering the Lakers drafted another power forward last year with their lottery pick.
The small forward position has been a weakness for the Lakers for quite some time now, and Johnson would be a great fit for the future. He has HUGE perimeter-stopper potential, and has shown signs that he can get it done on the other end. His three point shot is definitely developing as he is shooting 35.3% from behind the arc this year, and his athleticism allows him to be a great finisher around the basket. However, Johnson has struggled as of late, including a 1-9 outing against UCLA a few games ago.
But, the Arizona Wildcats still have plenty of games left, considering this team has final four potential. Johnson will get the chance to prove what he has on the biggest stage of them all and hopefully return back to his top 5 draft position. Even if Johnson’s struggles continue for the rest of the season, it is a guarantee that his combine results will get GM’s to forget about any postseason let downs.
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PF-Julius Randle: The power forward spot is stacked in the 2015 free agency class and if the Lakers come out empty in yet another summer, Randle will be a starter for the first time in his short career. It will be interesting to see if Randle has improved his non-existent jump shot that he came into the league with. Randle could be the X-factor for this Lakers team next year. If he can make a huge leap in his “second” year (only played one game in his first year), the Lakers might be able to contend for a playoff spot despite being led by a 37 year old Kobe Bryant.
C-Jordan Hill: If the Lakers pick up Jordan Hill‘s option, Hill will be looking to impress them next year and might get the perfect opportunity to do it. While the Lakers might be able to grab a center with their first round pick from Houston, Hill should feel pretty safe about his starting spot as long as the Lakers don’t get a top three pick. Hill proved he was worthy of his 20 million dollar contract in the first half of the season.
But, as the tanking becomes more and more part of the game plan, Hill’s minutes seem to decrease. At one point Robert Sacre was starting over Hill which is absolutely ridiculous considering the difference in the skill set of the two. Hill would be a great fit with this lineup as his much improved jumper would give the other four room to drive and operate inside.
Looking at this lineup, the term “worst” doesn’t really sound appropriate. It is pretty much impossible to downgrade from this year’s starting five, so no matter what the situation, the Lakers will get better. There are a number of issues in this starting lineup. The most obvious would be interior defense. As I stated in my previous article, Randle’s average wingspan and jumping ability make him a poor shot blocker and Hill isn’t much of a rim protector himself.
Also, there are no three point threats in this lineup. Johnson’s three ball is improved but he is a few years away from being considered a knock-down shooter. It was clear in the first half of the season that Bryant’s old man legs caused him to shoot fewer threes and work more inside. Look at the bright side. Even in the worst case scenario, the Lakers will have three young studs to build around for the future.
Now let’s get to the good part. To start, the Lakers are projected to have somewhere around 25 million dollars in cap space over the summer. Landing free agents is essential in the “ideal” lineup for next year but draft position will also play a factor. So in this case, the best case scenario would be if the Lakers were to receive a top three draft pick. I say top three and not number one because as of right now, there is no clear-cut number one prospect, at least in my opinion.
PG-Jordan Clarkson: The back-court is not going to change. The two top targets at the point guard position for the 2015 free agency class are Goran Dragic and Rajon Rondo, but neither of them seem very likely. As for Dragic, there is absolutely no way that Pat Riley would do something as idiotic as what Jim Buss/Mitch Kupchak did, by trading for a star with an expiring contract without a 100% guarantee that the player will re-sign in the off-season (Dwight Howard). And as for Rondo, there is no doubt that he is on the decline, and that jumper keeps getting worse and worse.
SG-Kobe Bryant: I’ll be shocked the day another shooting guard in this league starts over Kobe on a Lakers team. Besides, most of the shooting guards in this summer’s free agency class have either a team or player options. (Wade, Ellis, Afflalo, and Crawford). Plus, there are no shooting guards in the draft that are looked at as top 7 prospects.
SF-Mike Dunleavy Jr.: Sorry Lakers fans, no King James, but Dunleavy is solid. With 25 million dollars to spend, the Lakers can realistically only sign one all star which will likely go to the power forward position. The small forward position is stacked with solid role players, Dunleavy being one of them. He is one of the leagues premier outside shooters, shooting 41% from long range, and he is an underrated defender.
I know Dunleavy doesn’t exactly define the word “best” in best case scenario, but he will bring what the Lakers team will need next year, outside shooting and veteran leadership. This is going to be a young team, and besides Kobe, there will no playoff experience. Dunleavy has appeared in the playoffs in three of the last four seasons and will likely return this year. With the recent emergence of Tony Snell, I would not be surprised if Chicago shows little interest in re-signing Dunleavy to a deal in the 2 year, 14 million dollar range.
PF-Kevin Love: Finally! This is where the money is going. The Lakers have made it public that Love, Greg Monroe, and Lamarcus Aldridge are all on their radar for this summer. Aldridge loves it in Portland, meaning there is little chance he is playing anywhere but RIP City next season. There is too much championship potential and young talent for him to leave. However, Love is not in the best situation in Cleveland. Although things have gotten better, Love is still the third option and is used as a stretch four most of the time. Even with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, Love is way too skilled to just be hanging around the three point line. If James leads the Cavs to a title this season, it is unlikely that Love will leave. But, if Cleveland receives an earlier playoff exit than expected by the Hawks or maybe a healthy Bulls team, Love could opt out of his contract and test free agency. The Lakers would be able to offer Love a full max contract. It’s a bit of a stretch, but hopefully some hometown magic will lure Love to L.A.
C-Karl Anthony Towns: This is my favorite part. Love and Dunleavy will be nice, but what’s really best about this scenario is that the Lakers get the chance to draft the freshman sensation from Kentucky. Based on rumors, it seems as if Okafor and Mudiay are atop the Lakers draft board, but, ideally, Towns would be the best option if the Lakers have the choice. No matter what happens, the Lakers are going to need a rim protector next season, an area where Towns excels. Towns leads the nation in defensive efficiency and is 2nd in the SEC in blocks, despite playing only 20.7 minutes per game. Even if the Lakers miss out on the big time free agents, drafting Towns would be considered a successful summer.
Basically, no matter what happens, reaching title contention level next year is nearly impossible. This summer will be about free agents, and THE draft pick that Lakers fans have been raving about recently. One thing that scares me most is that Jim Buss will pay a player like Rondo or Greg Monroe way too much and ruin the future again.