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Los Angeles Lakers: Predicting the starting lineup for the season

By Kenneth Teape

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 10: The Los Angeles Lakers stand for the National Anthem before a preseason game against the Utah Jazz on October 10, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 10: The Los Angeles Lakers stand for the National Anthem before a preseason game against the Utah Jazz on October 10, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope avoids broken nose
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 02: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles past Malik Beasley #25 of the Denver Nuggets during the second half of a preseason game at Staples Center on October 2, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Starting Shooting Guard: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

The Lakers signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope away from the Detroit Pistons to a one-year, $18 million deal. You do not sign a player to that type of contract and not have him start.

Caldwell-Pope will not be available for the first two games of the season because of a suspension. The Lakers will have to patch up the shooting guard spot for those first two games, but Caldwell-Pope will be manning the shooting guard spot once he returns.

Last season, the Lakers struggled mightily on defense and making three-pointers. Those happen to be Caldwell-Pope’s strengths, which is what made him such a great signing for the Lakers. He immediately improves two weaknesses for the team and with very little risk.

Los Angeles and Caldwell-Pope are a great match. The Lakers needed help at shooting guard and didn’t want to commit long-term money. Caldwell-Pope now has a chance to improve his value once again in a wide open offense and hit free agency again next offseason.

Caldwell-Pope’s strengths will be on full display this season in Los Angeles. His defense will be counted on next to Lonzo Ball, and he will undoubtedly be the recipient of plenty of Ball kick-out passes offensively. It would not be shocking to see Caldwell-Pope put up some career numbers in the Lakers fast-paced offense.

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