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Ranking the Los Angeles Lakers’ biggest needs at the NBA All-Star break

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 20: Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel talks with the team during a time out against the Miami Heat at Staples Center on February 20, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 20: Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel talks with the team during a time out against the Miami Heat at Staples Center on February 20, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

3. The Los Angeles Lakers need someone who can do Markieff Morris’ job better

Markieff Morris’ NBA career has been a roller coaster. Some years he looks like one of the best three and D forwards in the league and is right up there with his brother, Marcus. However, unlike Marcus, Markieff cannot stay consistent and play at that level long-term.

After getting the best version of Morris in the NBA Playoffs last year, the Los Angeles Lakers are getting the worst version of Morris this season. Morris played a bigger role in the last two games of the first half because of the team’s injuries and that only showcased further why the Lakers may need to replace him with someone better.

It won’t take much to be better, either. I am a huge Markieff Morris fan, so even I am biased a bit towards Morris, but it is time to find someone else for the job.

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Morris is shooting a terrible 32.2% from beyond the arc with a shoddy 50.3 effective field goal percentage. There are players worse on the Lakers, but that just showcases that there are other needs. He ranks in the 30th percentile in the NBA in eFG%.

His shooting is down, his rebounding and defense are not particularly great and he has posted a negative value over replacement player this season. His -2.5 Box Plus/Minus is the second-worst among rotation players on the team.

His role is small, hence why it is the third-biggest need. The Lakers can certainly get away with just reducing his minutes in the playoffs. But it would still be ideal to replace him with someone who is at least more efficient.

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