4. Allow the rookies to play big minutes
For lack of a better term, the rest of the season is now garbage time. There is no reason to field the best players and risk injury, it is now time to play the fringe guys who bust their asses in practice week in and week out.
The Lakers have already shut Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball down for the rest of the season and more than likely Kyle Kuzma is going to follow suit with his nagging injuries. With so many openings in the starting five, it is now time to give the young guns some quality game time. With Mortiz Wagner and Isaac Bonga, the Lakers have two youngsters with good potential.
With Mortiz “Mo Wagner” the Lakers have a potential modern day stretch forward capable of playing both center and power forward, he plays with a high motor and tries really hard on defense.
With the potential playing time he could get towards the end of the season, Wagner should focus on slowing the game down, allowing himself to get his shots off in the flow of the game. He should also focus on improving as a rebounder as he definitely has the frame, aggression and height to be able to grab 7-8 rebounds a game.
With Isaac Bonga, you have a point guard in a small forwards body and it is easy to see why the Lakers took a chance on Bonga. His style of play is energetic and not since Lamar Odom have the Lakers had a young point-forward who they can mold and develop.
With LeBron James on the roster, Bonga couldn’t ask for a better mentor. Hopefully, both players show out for the rest of the season and build upon that experience in the offseason and develop even further.