Los Angeles Lakers Depth Chart Heading Into August

There are still numerous questions surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers’ roster, but here is the current depth chart heading into August

Since signing Timofey Mozgov and Luol Deng to start off free agency, roster news surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers has been extremely mum. However, the latest has the Lakers eyeing an “unnamed trade target” according to Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders (h/t to SilverScreenAndRoll).

Pincus revealed that the team has “held off on signing Tarik Black, Marcelo Huertas and second-overall pick Brandon Ingram,” but more so, that “the Lakers do have an unnamed trade target in mind, but are also preserving space for another opportunistic Calderon-like deal.”

Ironically, unless the Lakers stretch Nick Young‘s remaining two years worth just around $11 million, it may actually be them who has to include a pick, just like the Chicago Bulls did, in order to coerce a team to take Young off their hands.

Here is the Lakers’ current depth chart as stands:

Point Guard

Seeing how Ingram, Black and Huertas have yet to officially be signed, the Lakers point guard spot is held down by D’Angelo Russell and Jose Calderon, though they will likely be joined by Huertas in the near future.

In the Calderon trade, the Lakers not only practically stole two free draft picks from the Bulls, but they also landed a veteran guard who could help Russell learn the ins-and-outs of the point guard position.

Shooting Guard

The Lakers re-signed Jordan Clarkson to a multi-year contract in early July where he will return to share time with gunner and former Sixth Man of the Year, Lou Williams.

Despite fans, including myself, insistence that the team trade Williams in order to move up in the draft and free up more minutes for Russell and Clarkson, the team stuck by their remarks that they see Williams as a key member of their core and held onto him until now.

Small Forward

At the three, the Lakers currently have Luol Deng, Anthony Brown and Nick Young, though Young will likely get moved or stretched before the season. Additionally, Brandon Ingram will be joining this group shortly.

It will be interesting to see how Coach Luke Walton will manage the minutes of all three players, and more so, who will start to begin the regular season. Pre-season will give fans a good idea of the answer to that question.

Power Forward

Julius Randle and Larry Nance Jr currently hold down the power forward spot, one of the Lakers’ most intriguing positions on the team. Similar to the situation with Ingram and Deng, the Lakers will have their work cut out for them if Nance continues to steadily improve his play.

Fans have yet to see Randle since the end of last season, but hopefully he’s driven by his front court mate’s rapid development.

Center

Deciding to move on from Roy Hibbert, the center position is now occupied by Timofey Mozgov, Ivica Zubac and soon, Tarik Black. Ideally, Black and Zubac will show out early in the season and steal the starting spot from Mozgov some time during the year, assuming he has it to begin with.

Black has proven to be a formidable pick-and-roll man alongside D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson and Zubac has fans salivating after his Summer League surprise, so it’s definitely a possibility.

Next: How Much Cap Space Do the Lakers Have Left?

The Lakers are likely to make more moves before the start of the regular season, but for now, it is as stated above.

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