2. They appear to have a deep bench
After a 2018-19 season in which they had what some called the “Meme Team,” the Lakers now have depth that consists of solid-character guys who can actually contribute in a positive way.
Just look at their projected depth chart in the backcourt:
PG: Bradley, Rondo, Cook, Alex Caruso
SG: Green, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cook, Daniels
That’s seven guards who they should be able to rely on, one way or another.
To bolster their frontcourt, they took a flyer on DeMarcus Cousins, which seemed to excite many fans. Just days after Cousins suffered his third severe lower body injury in less than two years, the Lakers took action and signed another former star center in Dwight Howard.
Yes, Howard, like Cousins, has character issues. However, if he keeps them in check, he’ll actually be a better fit for this team than Cousins, thanks to his ability to protect the rim, rebound well, run the floor, finish strong at the rim and make the pick-and-roll work well.
Possessing strong depth like this helps you get through the regular season in one piece with a high number of wins. It can also set the Lakers up nicely to make a mid-season trade if they feel they’re one piece away from winning it all.