Los Angeles Lakers: 7 takeaways from six-game road trip

5. Bench shows up

With all of the injuries that the Lakers have dealt with, there have been a number of lineup changes. With the NBA Trade Deadline occurring during this latest road trip, lineup changes occurred once again. Throughout those changes, the one consistent for the Lakers was that the bench played well.

Los Angeles had at least one bench player score in double-figures in five out of the six games. In four of those six, they had multiple players score in double-figures. Lance Stephenson started the road trip hot, scoring at least 10 points in the first four games. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope shot 38.7 percent from the 3-point line during the road trip.

Those two, along with Rajon Rondo, will be the focal points of the bench unit going forward. Rondo rebounded well after a poor game against the 76ers with 13 points, seven rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block against the Hawks.

Coming out of the All-Star break, it would make sense to see what Mortiz Wagner could do. He could help get the offense going with the second unit with his floor spacing and playmaking ability in the high post.

Getting Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart back from injury will also help bolster the second unit. Who is pushed to the second unit upon Ball’s return will be something to keep an eye on once he is healthy to take back over the starting point guard spot.