The Los Angeles Lakers’ final roster after these moves:
As previously stated, these moves do work with the NBA salary cap and the Los Angeles Lakers would be deploying a 13-man roster for the 2020-21 season that is even better than the roster last year despite losing several players to free agency.
The starting five looks like this:
- PG: Avery Bradley
- SG: Victor Oladipo
- SF: LeBron James
- PF: Anthony Davis
- C: DeMarcus Cousins
I have Avery Bradley starting over someone such as Alex Caruso just because he started for the team last season while he played and he is someone who can play the point guard position without demanding the ball. LeBron is playing the three but is essentially acting as the point guard.
Bradley, LeBron and Davis are all the same. Oladipo is absolutely an upgrade from Danny Green, especially the way he played in the playoffs, and an 80% Boogie Cousins is huge for the Lakers at the five.
Here is how the rest of the bench would fill out. I have it ordered by minutes played.
- 6: Danilo Gallinari
- 7: Alex Caruso
- 8: Derrick Rose
- 9: Dwight Howard
- 10: Markieff Morris
- 11: Kyle Korver
- 12: Killian Tillie
- 13: Second veteran ring-chaser (Let’s just say Wilson Chandler)
Gallinari gets the most minutes off the bench by replacing Kuzma in his role but Alex Caruso and Derrick Rose are not far behind. It would be extremely fun to see Rose operate the offense like Rajon Rondo would with LeBron off the court and AD on the court.
There is obviously moving parts in the rotation but that second unit of Rose at point guard, Caruso at shooting guard, Gallinari at small forward, Morris at power forward and Dwight Howard at center is really good. Find me a team that has a second unit that talented.
The team maintains its defensive identity as Rose is a wash with Rondo and Gallinari is a wash with Kuzma while also getting more versatile on the offensive side of the court.
To me, this is what a perfect Los Angeles Lakers offseason looks like and one that would lead to back-to-back championships in LA.