Checking in on the Los Angeles Lakers’ offseason additions

With every player having an increased role in Anthony Davis’ absence, the Los Angeles Lakers’ offseason additions are more important than ever. 

It’s been quite the season for the defending champs. After a great start to the season, the Los Angeles Lakers have been in trouble lately. Anthony Davis‘ absence has only compounded the issues that this team had before he went down.

The offense has plummeted and the shot-making has been abysmal outside of LeBron James and Dennis Schroder. The defense is what has kept this team in contention for a top-three seed in the brutal Western Conference.

With the aforementioned struggles out of the way, there have been some positives on this strange season. The offseason additions being one of them. To recap, Dennis Schroder, Marc Gasol, Montrezl Harrell, and Wesley Matthews were this offseason’s additions.

Each player has had a specific role to fill with the Los Angeles Lakers and their contributions have been noticeable in their own ways.

Let’s start with Schroder. The counting stats are fine at 14.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 4.2 apg with 44/31.5/83.3 shooting splits.

It’s his presence as a secondary ball-handler that impacts this team in a positive manner. With Schroder on the floor, the Lakers carry a top 10 offense. Without him? The LA offense plummets to a bottom four offense. What better way to illustrate his offensive impact than the four games he missed due to health and safety protocols?

In those four games, the Lakers cracked the 100 point mark only once and in two of those games they faced a bottom-five defense (Nets and Wizards). In his return against Portland, the Laker offense flowed and his impact was felt in huge fashion.

GAME RECAP: 3 lessons in blowout win over Warriors

Continuing with Gasol, he has been the subject of unwarranted derision amongst a section of the fanbase (box score watchers most likely). Maybe they were unclear as to what his role would be, but, let’s clear it up for them: Marc Gasol did not come to Los Angeles to score like an all-star or defend like his past DPOY self.

Gasol was brought to provide good rim protection and open up the offense with his passing and his serviceable shooting ability. So far he has been excellent defending the paint, holding his opponents to 31.6% shooting from 5-9 feet away from the basket.

Pretty good if you ask me. His shooting has been a bit inconsistent, but again his role was never meant to be more than a passer and screen setter. See below for proof.

Moving on to Matthews, this is the one addition that has been a bit inconsistent. His playing time varies and he has racked up some DNP’s along the way. He was mostly brought due to his shooting ability and solid defense against wings.

The shooting has been unremarkable at 34.4% from deep this season (this would also mark a career-low for him). The defense has been all right at times. At his current price point, these are the type of contributions that are pretty reasonable to expect.

Finally, we land on Montrezl Harrell. Harrell was the surprise signing of the offseason as Rob Pelinka snatched him from the crosstown rival LA Clippers. His overall counting stats are down from his 6MOY campaign. He’s playing three fewer minutes per game and, aside from LeBron James, the Lakers don’t have a playmaking threat as good as Lou Williams was last season.

Nevertheless, his play has been solid and he has played his role accordingly. Last game against Portland his role was accentuated even more. Harrel’s positioning near the basket allowed him to create easy offense for himself and his team.

Overall, the offseason additions have been very solid in their roles, and even as the Lakers have struggled lately the coaching staff will keep finding ways to win games. It’s easy to forget, but the Los Angeles Lakers are currently the 2nd seed in the West. Until other teams prove otherwise, they are still the team to beat.