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Los Angeles Lakers: Ranking the first wave of offseason moves

By Jason Reed

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 09: Marc Gasol #33 of the Toronto Raptors prior to the start of the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Visa Athletic Center at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 09, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 09: Marc Gasol #33 of the Toronto Raptors prior to the start of the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Visa Athletic Center at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 09, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Ashley Landis – Pool/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Ashley Landis – Pool/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

1. Trading for Dennis Schroder

First off, let’s just picture something that sounds beautiful: Dennis Schroder and Montrezl Harrell manning the second unit for the Los Angeles Lakers. After having to deal with LeBron James and Anthony Davis teams are not going to get a break as they have to face Schroder and Harrell off the bench.

We saw how lethal Lou Williams and Harrell were as a tandem last season and that was with the team not utilizing Harrell to his best abilities defensively and with Williams’ terrible defense. Now imagine that with a plus-defender in Schroder and a better Harrell.

The trade itself was fantastic. The Lakers got rid of someone who they easily replaced with Wesley Matthews and only had to pay the 28th overall pick in the draft to get a legitimate difference-maker at the point guard position.

Schroder is the perfect player to act as the second ball-handler behind LeBron James and he is someone who can be effective off the ball as well. He is essentially going to be a significantly better version of Rajon Rondo for the Lakers.

Schroder averaged 18.9 points, 4.0 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game last season while shooting 46.9% from the field, 38.5% from beyond the arc and 83.9% from the free-throw line. Defensively, he posted a 1.04 defensive PIPM. For comparison’s sake, Rondo posted a -1.11 D-PIPM and Williams posted a -2.32 D-PIPM.

Next. Should the Lakers extend Kuzma in 2021?. dark

Only 11 point guards in the league posted a better D-PIPM last season and two of them are his Laker teammates — LeBron James and Alex Caruso.

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