Whenever a big three or a big four gets assembled, it becomes a guessing game for analysts and fans and the trickiest job for organizations: finding out who is going to complete the lineup alongside the superstars. The Los Angeles Lakers are in that situation.
Sometimes it is easy, you already have the right piece to slide in who perfectly fits the need. Sometimes it is harder for teams to figure out the best complements and how to get them.
It was Devean George, who naturally provided the spacing and triangle offense expertise for the 2004 Lakers (fifth season in a purple and gold uniform), to make the hall-of-famers-loaded lineup work (more or less).
It took some time for the Miami Heat to find the point guard who would stand next to LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
Carlo Arroyo. Mike Bibby. Finally, Mario Chalmers proved the best fit.
Joe Harris was already there when the Brooklyn Nets acquired Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden, but finding a suitable center was a bumpy road which ended up with Blake Griffin getting the job.
The same questions will now rise for the Los Angeles Lakers, as a team of formidable star power is set to take the court in October.
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There is no need to state the obvious (but I will do anyway). The core of the starting lineup will be the big three. LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook.
Although we heard a lot about AD’s commitment to play center more next season, as the modern game and talent on the roster demand, still head coach Frank Vogel and this iteration of the Lakers like to play big and that is part of the reason of their success in the last two years. So, it is safe to say that LA will keep starting the classic two-big-man combination, featuring Davis at the four and Marc Gasol at the five.
Marc’s ability to stretch the floor (he shot 41 percent from three last season) and passing skills (4 assists per 36 minutes) make him a good fit in the lineup. Maybe more than people think.
Actually, folks is sleeping on the Spaniard, but he might reveal an unexpected surprise for many. He certainly will not be able to keep up with Westbrook running up and down the floor in transition. But whenever the Lakers will settle to play half court, his passing will be extremely beneficial to make the offense work more smoothly, taking into account AD’s needed looks in the post and Westbrook having to cut and play off-ball.
It remains to be seen who the wing is that completes the Los Angeles Lakers lineup.
It is obvious, as endlessly repeated throughout the summer, that it has to be a shooter.
It is going to come out of training camp who the best fit is, but Frank Vogel’s options are numerous and open.
Carmelo Anthony is in a phase of his career where he has accepted and looks more suited for a role off the bench. Playing as a backup and spot-up shooter is what surprisingly resurrected his career when it looked all but over. It will probably take the best out of him, so better keep him in that department.
The choice will be between five players (that is how deep the Los Angeles Lakers are). Malik Monk, Trevor Ariza, Kent Bazemore, Talen Horton-Tucker and Wayne Ellington.
Although Ariza proved to still be able to provide quality minutes as a starter last season in Miami, capable of knocking down threes and playing defense, this lineup is already old enough. It will probably need some fresh legs, to keep up with Westbrook, and very good shooting.
The 20-year-old THT would definitely inject energy and defense into the starting lineup, but maybe his shooting is, as far as we know, at the moment not good enough to make him an optimal fit.
Reverse situation for Malik Monk, who shot 40.1 percent from last season in Charlotte: A productive shooter not reliable enough on defense.
Possibly, it will go down to the two former Lakers who experienced the dark years of Los Angeles basketball post-2013.
Ellington, as the best three-point shooter on the team looks by far the best fit offensively. A deadly spot-up shooter, whose job and expertise is in feeding off his teammates’ kick-outs and knock down threes. The promise that makes him such an enticing fit is his most recent 42.2 percent from three on 6 attempts per game as a member of the Detroit Pistons.
Yet, in the end it is Bazemore who could have the slight edge for his defensive prowess. Based on what has been told, and we even heard from the player himself in his introductory press conference, Lakers’ brass had a strong desire to bring him in.
Which likely translates for a big role in the rotations. If Kent’s touch remains soft enough to provide a solid contribution from the distance, his defense and energy are what would give him the advantage over his peers.
Anyway, it will be training camp and players’ renewed showing to determine who will ultimately get that starting spot. But remember, it does not really matter WHO actually gets to start. This is a 13-man game where everyone has is role and time. To find how the single pieces fit together and the best working combinations is what really counts.