Wrap up and lineup prediction
Even if the Lakers make no further moves before next season begins, the starting lineup is far from certain. Obviously, it will include James along with Brandon Ingram, and probably KCP. But will the starting point guard be Ball or Rondo? And who will start at center- McGee, Wagner or Ivica Zubac? The depth chart at this point looks something like this:
PG- Ball, Rondo, Alex Caruso
SG- KCP, Hart, Mykhailiuk, Newman
SF- Ingram, Stephenson, Luol Deng
PF- James, Kuzma
C- McGee, Wagner, Zubac
It’s a good, talented lineup, one that should make the playoffs. There’s even a decent chance they’ll gain first-round home court advantage. But unless the young core takes an explosive step forward, they almost certainly won’t be able to knock off the Warriors next year, nor likely the Rockets either.
Why did Magic take such unnecessary risks with the supporting players he signed? He absolutely could have (and should have) recruited a much more fitting, less volatile auxiliary cast for James. Time will tell how it turns out.