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Lakers Training Camp: Who Makes the Cut at Power Forward?

Hannah Kulik
Hannah Kulik

Lake Show Life

October 19, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle (30) moves to the basket against the Utah Jazz during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

As the Los Angeles Lakers prepare to open training camp they have no fewer than six players under contract at the power forward position.

It is anticipated that only three or four will be on the opening day roster. The competition for these limited spots should be fierce in the preseason, and it will be interesting to see who makes the cut and if there are any surprises.

Julius Randle is a lock for one of the power forward spots, but he has a great deal to prove after missing virtually all of last season. Selected with the seventh pick in the 2014 draft, the team’s foreseeable future is in no small measure dependent on how far and fast Randle develops.

Randle appears to have all the necessary physical tools to be a star. He is in much better condition this year after working out hard for months.

In his brief NBA career, Randle’s game has relied heavily on getting the ball at the top of the key and powering his way to the basket.

He has to learn to use his bulk to play inside more, and while he has a quick first move to the basket, he needs to do a better job finishing at the rim. Developing a consistent mid-range jump shot is also critical.

Randle also has to rebound and play defense to become a complete player. In college he averaged a double-double, so he has the talent. Whether his collegiate prowess translates to the NBA is something we should start to see in the preseason.

Next: Brandon Bass

Feb 22, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Boston Celtics center Brandon Bass (30) blocks a shot by Los Angeles Lakers forward Ed Davis (21) in the second half of the game at Staples Center. Lakers won 118-111 in OT. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

In the early stages of the season Randle is expected to battle Brandon Bass for the starting job at power forward. In many ways Bass is the opposite of Randle. He is a 30-year-old veteran who was a second round draft choice of the New Orleans Hornets in 2005.  He played two seasons for the Hornets, followed by two seasons each with Dallas and Orlando, before finding a home for four years with the Boston Celtics.

Bass’ best season was in 2011-12 when he set personal career highs of 12.5 points and  6.2 rebounds per game, while making 48% of his shots and 81% of his free throws. He also scored a career high 27 points in a playoff game that season. Bass was consistent throughout his Celtics career but became expendable when the team committed to a serious youth movement.

Bass has worked hard for everything he has accomplished in the NBA and Byron Scott likes hard nose players with that resume. He will battle Randle for the starter’s role and may  earn the spot at the start of the season given Scott’s preference to play veterans. No matter who starts, it is important for Bass to mentor Randle because the latter represents the Lakers’ future.

Next: Ryan Kelly

Apr 8, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Ryan Kelly (R) shoots the ball over Denver Nuggets guard Randy Foye (L) during the second half at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 119-101. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Ryan Kelly has been a disappointment since his rookie year in 2013-14.  A second round draft choice from Duke, the Lakers hoped he would develop into an effective “stretch 4,” but thus far Kelly has not shown the ability to consistently make his three-point shots at the NBA level. Further, for a seven-foot player, he is an inadequate rebounder and defender.

Kelly played slightly better in Mike D’Antoni‘s fast paced system. Scott gave him a lot of minutes last year but Kelly never seemed comfortable with his role. He is under contract, but with the competition stiff, he is going to have to have an eye-opening preseason to make the opening day squad this year.

Next: Tarik Black

March 16, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Tarik Black (28) shoots the basketball against Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (12, right) during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Lakers 108-105. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Tarik Black was a pleasant surprise last year. Undrafted, he played hard, made the Houston Rocket’s roster, and even started when Dwight Howard was injured. When the Rockets signed Josh Smith mid-season they had to cut Black to make room, at which point he signed with the Lakers.

Black is a blue-collar player who works hard at both ends of the court. Last year he was in and out of Scott’s rotation which made it hard for him to stay consistent, but he had his share of surprisingly strong performances on offense and defense. He also emerged as a leader among the younger players in the recent Summer League.

By all appearances Black is the kind of player and man a team wants on its roster, so there are plenty of fans rooting for him. The best guess is that Black will make the squad. One factor is that he can also come off the bench as a center, where he uses his quickness and hustle to compensate for a lack of size.

Next: Larry Nance Jr.

Jul 11, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Larry Nance, Jr. (7) reacts after a play during an NBA Summer League game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Thomas & Mack Center. The Lakers won 68-60. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Larry Nance, Jr. was a surprise first round draft choice this summer. He is an athletic leaper who had a couple of highlight moments in Summer League. His game is based on out-hustling everyone at both ends of the floor.  His future in the NBA will depend on whether he can learn to guard bigger and stronger front court players, and he must develop a consistent mid-range jumper.

Nance Jr. could compete for the final power forward spot on the roster, but he could also spend time in the D-League. With his hustle and humble personality he is likely to become a fan favorite.

Next: Jonathan Holmes

Jan 24, 2015; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns forward Jonathan Holmes (10) reacts against the Kansas Jayhawks during the first half at the Frank Erwin Special Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports

If there is a player who could emerge as a pleasant surprise in training camp it is Jonathan Holmes. Standing 6’ 9” and weighing 242 lbs., Holmes played four years of college ball at the University of Texas where he had a solid career. He went undrafted this past summer which was a surprise to many NBA observers.

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Holmes has the size and quickness to be a good defender. On offense he can post up but is also an excellent outside shooter which no doubt caught the Lakers attention. At the NBA combine, he made 17 of 25 three-point shots with his feet set, which ranked No. 2 among all rookies.

Holmes had a strong Summer League performance playing for the Boston Celtics.  He averaged 12.2 points per game on 55 percent shooting. He made 46 percent of his three-point attempts and was a perfect 15 for 15 from the free throw line. One factor in his favor is that despite his strength and size, Holmes is quick enough to play small forward — a position at which the Lakers are very thin – which increases his value.

Holmes has a partially guaranteed contract, which means the Lakers are interested in giving him a chance.  As an undrafted rookie he is a long shot to make the squad, but of all the players competing for the final roster spots, he is one of the most intriguing.

Next: Odd Man Out

Apr 10, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Tarik Black (28) defends against Minnesota Timberwolves center Justin Hamilton (41) during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

In the end, Black and Holmes have versatility on their side as they can play multiple positions. Randle and Bass will battle for the starter’s role. Nance Jr. was a first round draft choice, albeit a surprising one, so if nothing else he will stick around as a member of the D-Fenders. Kelly would appear to have little chance of earning a roster spot, but then again, for some reason the Lakers keep giving him a guaranteed contract.

Vigorous competition at power forward will soon start to provide answers to questions such as: Just how good is Randle and can pressure from Bass accelerate his growth?

Can undrafted but hard-working players like Black and Holmes use their versatility to win roster spots? Were the Lakers justified in making Nance Jr. a first round draft choice?

We should start to get answers when training camp opens this coming week.

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Hannah Kulik

Hannah Kulik

I attend Loyola Marymount University where I have been an on-air radio and television personality. I am a passionate Lakers fan and hope to work on-camera for Time Warner Cable Access Sportsnet Lakers channel in the future.  Aside from my interest in the Lakers I have been a competitive equestrian in the Arabian horse world for a number of years.