Los Angeles Lakers: 2019-20 NBA season preview

2019-20 roster

Key Additions: Anthony Davis (trade), Talen Horton-Tucker (draft), Danny Green (free agency), Avery Bradley (free agency), Jared Dudley (free agency), Troy Daniels (free agency), DeMarcus Cousins (free agency), Dwight Howard (free agency), Quinn Cook (free agency), Kostas Antetokounmpo (free agency), Zach Norvell (undrafted free agent), Devontae Cacok (undrafted free agent)

Key Subtractions: Lonzo Ball (trade), Brandon Ingram (trade), Josh Hart (trade), Isaac Bonga (trade), Moritz Wagner (trade), Tyson Chandler (free agency), Lance Stephenson (free agency), Mike Muscala (free agency)

The Lakers were all over the map during free agency. They cleared enough cap space to chase max free agents and made multiple trades to ensure that they had that flexibility. The biggest acquisition was landing Davis.

It wasn’t cheap, but it was worthwhile. Los Angeles now has a second superstar paired with James and one they can build around when James retires.

The front office’s goal this offseason was a complete 180 from last year. Last year, Magic Johnson and Pelinka tried to surrounding James with tough-nosed, defensive-minded playmakers. That was a disaster, so they went back to the tried and true formula of adding 3-point shooters. The sample size wasn’t huge in the preseason, but the early results were impressive.

The only spot this team may be lacking in currently is on the wing. They don’t have many small forwards on the roster, as James and Kuzma will probably play the majority of the minutes there. However, the team is still holding out hope that Andre Iguodala is waived and they can sign him.

Fans will miss the young core that was traded away for Davis, but it was a move that needed to be made. The Lakers retained a majority of their free agents from last year’s roster with Rajon Rondo, JaVale McGee and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope all re-signing.