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Los Angeles Lakers: Why the Lakers don’t need J.R Smith

By Jason Reed

CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 08: JR Smith #5 of the Cleveland Cavaliers warms up before Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 08: JR Smith #5 of the Cleveland Cavaliers warms up before Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

1. The Los Angeles Lakers already have a lot of backcourt depth

I broke down a potential playoff minutes scenario for the Los Angeles Lakers prior to Bradley’s decision under the assumption that he was going to play and even in a 10-man rotation there was no room for Alex Caruso. That is assuming that the team does not shrink the rotation to eight or 10 guys, which is a popular playoff practice.

Losing Bradley is a big hit as they are not losing a depth piece that could simply be replaced by anyone in free agency. They are losing someone who was going to play ~25 minutes per game in the playoffs.

Luckily, the team has the depth to fill in that void.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope should slot in as the team’s starting point guard. While he is not a point guard in the traditional sense, he is great defensively and is great off-ball, two things that play well with LeBron James.

After a slow start to the year, KCP has really picked up his play. Of the Lakers’ 20-most used lineups this season, six of the top-seven in terms of +/- over 100 possessions had KCP in the lineup. Five of those six were without Bradley and with KCP at the point.

Danny Green is naturally going to get more minutes in the playoffs because of his experience, which will help make up the difference. Rajon Rondo will be the team’s secondary ball-handler, and now suddenly has more of a role, and the team can split time between Caruso and Dion Waiters for the rest of the guard minutes at the two-guard.

That is plenty of depth in the backcourt. With Markieff Morris on the roster as well, the door is open for the Lakers to run bigger lineups out there with Kuzma and/or Morris at the three with LeBron at the four and Davis at the five.

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