Luke Walton recently talked about the Los Angeles Lakers blending with LeBron James.
Coming into the 2018-19 season, expectations are much higher than they have been in recent years for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Due to the addition of LeBron James as a free agent this offseason, the Lakers are going to be a much different team than last season. With a player the caliber of James joining the team, getting used to playing with him can take some time.
In addition to James signing with the Lakers, they also added some other new faces that will need to be integrated into the lineup. Getting rotations and lineups that work well together will be one of the biggest challenges for Luke Walton this season.
With the young core intact for the Lakers, Walton believes that they will be able to get used to playing with James. Here’s what Walton said about James joining the young core to Corey Hansford of LakersNation.com.
"“I know who our young players are and what they’re about. They’re excited he’s here,” Walton said. “I think the type of players they are and type of workers they are, they’re going to have a really good year.”"
As we have seen in the past with James joining teams, it can take time for the unit to gel. With James being such a ball-dominant player, it takes players time to adjust playing with him. However, on the Lakers, James might be playing more off the ball than we have ever seen in his career.
With guys like Lonzo Ball, Rajon Rondo, and even Brandon Ingram, James won’t be asked to be playing with the ball in his hands as much. James has become a much better three-point shooter in recent years, and that might be a role we see him in more this coming season.
As one of the hardest players to guard in the NBA, James can also be used in the post. While it might take a little time, James and the young core of the Lakers should blend very nicely as the season goes on.