Los Angeles Lakers: Predicting the team’s best five-man lineups

3. LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Dwight Howard, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Alex Caruso

Reports during the offseason were that fans should get used to seeing LeBron James at point guard, but if Frank Vogel and the rest of the coaching staff are looking for a lineup that would allow James to coast, here it is.

Alex Caruso is not just a Lakers’ fan favorite, he may also be the team’s best point guard. He had an excellent shooting season last year and is gritty on defense, allowing him to hold his own against guys like Stephen Curry or Russell Westbrook. Caruso may not have the same level of basketball IQ that you may get in Rajon Rondo, but he will provide a sense of passion you will not find in the veteran guard.

The battle for the center position will be a tight one. Both JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard have cases to make for who should start. It remains to be seen whether Dwight will dig deep into his bag of tricks to give Staples Center the Return of Superman. If Howard can stay healthy and regain some of the athleticism that made him such a monster earlier in his career, he and Anthony Davis could develop into a dominant presence down low.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is another player that is looking forward to a new season. His tenure with the Lakers has been chaotic, to say the least. If this team can build some chemistry, it could prove huge for KCP. During his time in Detroit, Caldwell-Pope was considered a dependable two-way player. Let’s see if Kentavious Caldwell-Pope can find some consistency with two All-Stars in the lineup.