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Lakers: 5 players that can help replace Avery Bradley’s role in Orlando

By Cameron Salce

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 06: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets is fouled while being guarded byAvery Bradley #11 and Danny Green #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half at Staples Center on February 6, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 06: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets is fouled while being guarded byAvery Bradley #11 and Danny Green #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half at Staples Center on February 6, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

4. Dion Waiters

The other recently signed former teammate of James that hopes to make an impact in the playoff bubble will be Dion Waiters. He can use this opportunity for minutes to rehabilitate his image around the league after his gummy bear fiasco in Miami early this season that caused him to miss a game against the Lakers.

Like Smith, Waiters is primarily known as an offensive specialist when he has been successful during his NBA tenure. No one should expect Waiters to replace Bradley’s ability to defend quicker point guards, he will be used for his shooting ability and to isolate smaller guards on offense to impact the game scoring off of the bench.

The former number four overall pick from the 2012 NBA draft never really reached his full potential, but had some great games with the Miami Heat in his career, and as recently as 2018 averaged 14.3 points per game.

However, when Waiters played alongside LeBron James in the beginning of his third season he got off to the worst scoring start in his career averaging only 10.5 points per game, after having the best season of his career averaging 15.9 points.

He also shot a career-low 25.6 percent from three, somehow, he digressed playing alongside one of the best guys at making players better the game has ever seen.

But all that happened in Cleveland during a much different time in Waiters career, when he still probably saw himself a star player in the making.

Now he has a different perspective on himself and the NBA, telling Bleacher Report back in April,

"“I ain’t gonna lie to you. Back then, in those Cleveland days? I was still a kid, too. A dumbass kid, trying to figure it out,” Waiters wrote of his relationship with James. “Bron used to show me different wines, different kinds of food. I was Philly Philly. I was raw. But Bron took me under his wing—and now all these years later, here we are again. Less hair, more wisdom. Life is crazy, right? Damn.”"

A second shot to play with the King in a newfound role is the perfect time for Waiters to prove he can provide valuable minutes on a Championship caliber team. He has shown he has the ability to get 30 points on a given night and lead his team in scoring.

Now he needs to prove he can play alongside James and contribute in the playoffs. He can do that by taking some of Bradley’s minutes and making the most of them.

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