5. Jordan Farmar will take over as back-up point guard
Let’s ease our way into the bold predictions as this one isn’t quite the most outlandish (hence it’s position at #5). Nevertheless, barring injury, Farmar will be the 3rd point guard on the team come opening night, and rightfully so. Despite playing well in Turkey, he hasn’t played an NBA game in a year and a half. I’d expect a little rust and a little bit of re-acclimation to the NBA before we see him find his stride.
However, Farmar fits Mike D’Antoni’s system better than Steve Blake. While Blake (like just about every other Laker) was injured for a big chunk of last season, his play down the stretch, specifically after Kobe went down, was key in the Lakers playoff run. Let’s face the facts, though. Blake will 34 this season and Farmar will be 27. Blake does little more than slow down opposing point guards while Farmar has made it his mission to be a “pest” defensively, as he said. I’d suspect that by mid-to-late January, we’ll see more Farmar and less Steve Blake, at least at the point guard position. Farmar’s ability to push the pace with the likes of Young, Meeks, Ryan Kelly, and Jordan Hill will push him into the back-up role at point guard.