Third Star: Dennis Schröder
This one is a slightly bold prediction. I only say this because we don’t know yet if Dennis Schröder will even be a starter.
He recently stated that he intends to start, but that is not decided and frankly isn’t his decision. Either way, he will most likely be the first name called to handle the ball when LeBron James is not on the floor.
He’s proven that he can fill up the score sheet and has shown an ability to distribute the rock as well. He’s a nasty, gritty, pitbull of a defender who will surely get a lot of minutes on this team should he play the way he normally does.
Were he to come off the bench, I could easily see him in the 6th Man of the Year conversation, (more on that later) but in the event that he is in the starting five, look for him to be that third star the Lakers have coveted, locking up opposing guards with tenacious fervor on defense while providing a solid scoring punch behind LeBron and AD.