Lakers: Biggest Surprises From LA’s Preseason Campaign

As the Lakers begin the first year of the post-Kobe Bryant rebuild, here were some of the biggest surprises from their preseason campaign

The Los Angeles Lakers have undergone a series of changes since the departure of Kobe Bryant and Byron Scott, and most of the changes have been for the better.

However, over the course of training camp and the preseason, there have already been some decisions that have drawn the criticism of fans… but what’s new?

Here are some of the biggest surprises from the team’s preseason campaign.

Jordan Clarkson Coming Off the Bench

When Clarkson re-signed a 4-year, $50 million contract with the Lakers, virtually everyone assumed he’d be starting in the backcourt alongside D’Angelo Russell. After all, he was voted onto the All-Rookie team two seasons ago, and last year he was probably the team’s most consistent player, starting all 79 games he played, and averaging 15.5 points in 32 minutes per game.

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But Coach Luke Walton made the surprising move to instead start former Sixth Man of the Year, Lou Williams at the shooting guard position, and use Clarkson as a sixth man. The reason he gave was that he likes the energy that Clarkson brings off the bench. But is there more to the decision than that?

Throughout much of his career, Williams has been a top-notch shot-maker and scorer off the bench. He’s played a similar role to what Jamal Crawford does for the Los Angeles Clippers and what Vinnie ‘Microwave’ Johnson did for the championship Detroit Pistons teams of the 1990s.

But Williams never has been, and probably never will be, much of a defender. The same can be said of Lakers back-up point-guards Jose Calderon and Marcelo Huertas. So maybe Walton is dreading playing two porous defenders side-by-side in the backcourt, even against other teams’ second-string guards.

Also, as good as Clarkson has been his first two years in the league, perhaps Walton and GM Mitch Kupchak picture him as more of a sixth-man for the long-term. Further, it could be that the team plans to pursue a top shooting guard next offseason through free agency or the draft (if the Lakers manage to hold on to their top-three pick once again next June) and are priming him for that.

Regardless of how he is used, Clarkson will undoubtedly play major minutes and take on a big role for the 2016-17 Lakers. He could well exceed last season’s court time and production this year. He’s also acknowledged his need to focus more on the defensive end, and the early results are encouraging.

The Impressive Performance by Veteran Nick Young

Last season, Young almost disappeared off the end of Byron Scott’s bench, playing in just 54 games, averaging only 19 minutes and a career-low 7.3 points per game on just 34 percent shooting. In addition, he and Russell had a much-publicized falling-out.

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Many, if not most, observers thought without a doubt that Swaggy P’s time with the Lakers was over. It was widely reported that Kupchak made multiple attempts to trade him in the offseason. After failing on that front, it was assumed that the Lakers would buy Young out of his contract and release him prior to training camp.

To Young’s credit, he didn’t get discouraged, reported to camp in good shape, and impressed Walton not only with his shooting prowess, but also, surprise-surprise, with his defense! Along with Russell, he was probably the best Lakers player during the preseason, and has seemingly assured himself not only of a spot on the roster, but perhaps one in the regular rotation.

But just where does Young fit in the young Lakers team lineup? He can play either shooting guard or small forward. But the team already has Clarkson and Williams at the 2, and Luol Deng and prized rookie Brandon Ingram at the 3. Anthony Brown is also competing for whatever backup minutes remain.

It is always possible that an injury or slump will open up a window for playing time. And perhaps Kupchak and Walton want Young to play well now so they can use him as a trade chip later, when his value could presumably be significantly higher than it was over the summer.

Certainly the Lakers have greater depth this year than they’ve had for quite some time. Their second unit consistently outplayed the opposition in preseason games. That should be a regular season strength of the team as well.

Choosing which quality players to put onto the court is a luxury normally reserved for championship contenders, not a team in year one of a total rebuild.

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And after the surprises of training camp, It will be interesting to see just what roles both Clarkson and Young play this season.