Los Angeles Lakers: Ranking each player of the newly constructed roster

By Jason Reed | Nov 30, 2020

Nov 22, 2019; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder (17) drives to the basket around Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) during the second half at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Los Angeles won 130-127. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports /

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(Photo by Ashley Landis – Pool/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

7. Marc Gasol

Marc Gasol is not the player that he once was and we have to acknowledge that he was pretty bad in the bubble last season. However, I would weigh that too heavily when anticipated what kind of impact he will have on the Los Angeles Lakers this season.

Gasol was an excellent signing by the Lakers that not only makes up for the loss of Dwight Howard (and JaVale McGee, technically) but improves upon those two players.

Gasol is just as good of a rim protector and defender as both McGee and Howard and while he is no longer the elite defensive player he once was he is still an overall better defensive player than what the Lakers had at center last season.

Not only that but Gasol can also stretch the floor, something that the Lakers did not out of the center position. I would bet that the team’s original plan was to space the floor a bit more with DeMarcus Cousins but once he was hurt the team had to transition into more of a paint-dominating role with their centers.

Gasol’s veteran expertise and his overall leadership qualities should mesh really well with LeBron James and company and I would go out on a limb and say that he is even better in 2021 than he was last season for Toronto.

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