Recent Los Angeles Lakers rumors involve the starting lineup, as Lonzo Ball will reportedly remain in the starting five.
There have been plenty of Los Angeles Lakers rumors in recent months in regards to the starting lineup. Head coach Luke Walton had some decisions to make as injuries kept some players sidelined.
This season, we have already seen changes to the starting five. Walton’s hand was forced when Rajon Rondo and Brandon Ingram, two starters, were suspended for their roles in the brawl with the Houston Rockets. In addition, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope‘s ineffectiveness led to a change being made at shooting guard.
As a result, since the suspension, the Lakers starting lineup has changed. The last two players remaining are LeBron James at power forward and JaVale McGee at center. Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart were the additions.
Hart looks to have locked down the shooting guard spot as he has outplayed Caldwell-Pope from the start. Kuzma could lose his spot to Ingram once Ingram returns. However, it looks like Rondo will not retain his starting spot.
According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Ball will remain in the starting lineup against the San Antonio Spurs despite Rondo returning from his suspension.
New story: Lonzo Ball will remain in the starting lineup upon Rajon Rondo's return from suspension Saturday in San Antonio, sources tell ESPN https://t.co/9TvWEnwOwJ
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) October 27, 2018
This was a no-brainer move for the Lakers. Ball has thrived in the starting lineup, averaging 12.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 2.7 steals per game. Ball is showcasing confidence on both ends of the court and looking more like the player that dominated throughout high school and in college with UCLA.
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Ball is a good fit for the starting lineup, as all of the pressure is off of him playing alongside LeBron James. Rondo has shown that he can succeed off the bench, something Ball has not shown he is comfortable doing, at least not yet.
Arguably the best reason for the change is that you don’t want to mess with something that is working. The Lakers are riding a two-game winning streak, as they went 2-1 without Rondo. Riding the momentum is the right thing to do.
While the starting lineup isn’t changing, the rotations may. With Rondo back in the lineup, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk could see his minutes reduced again. Walton could leave Svi in the lineup and reduce the minutes of Caldwell-Pope instead.
We will have to wait and see. What we do know, however, is that Ball will hear his name announced with the starting five along with Hart, James, Kuzma and McGee.