Los Angeles Lakers: 3 most promising players from first 3 games

Dec 25, 2020; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Montrezl Harrell (15), Los Angeles Lakers forward Markieff Morris (88) and Dallas Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber (42) reach for a rebound as he looks to shoot a basket in the first half of the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 25, 2020; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Montrezl Harrell (15), Los Angeles Lakers forward Markieff Morris (88) and Dallas Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber (42) reach for a rebound as he looks to shoot a basket in the first half of the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
2 of 3
(Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers

Most promising Los Angeles Lakers: 2. Montrezl Harrell

Thus far, Montrezl Harrell has been the best new addition to the Los Angeles Lakers. I really like Dennis Schroder and he is also great, but Harrell has played fantastic in the first three games and is proving why he won the Sixth Man of the Year last season.

MUST-READ: Why extending Dennis Schroder is imperative 

The biggest knock on Harrell has been his defense after he was torched by Nikola Jokic in the NBA Playoffs last season. While it is just three regular-season games and should not be overvalued, Harrell has been fairly decent defensively this season.

He has not been great, but he has not been this terrible negative that some think he is. News flash: almost everyone in the league is going to get torched by Nikola Jokic in the playoffs. Harrell is not this outright terrible defender.

Offensively, Harrell has provided the main punch off the bench and has been outright fantastic for the Lakers. Harrell is third in scoring on the team with 17 points per game to go alongside six rebounds and 2.3 assists.

Harrell’s free-throw shooting has been rough thus far but he has been extremely efficient from the floor. Harrell has made 73.3% of his shots through three games, giving him the highest field goal percentage in the league among players with at least 30 shot attempts.