The Los Angeles Lakers are likely done making moves before the 2021-22 season. DeAndre Jordan plans to sign with the Lakers when he officially can on Monday, giving the Lakers their 14th player on the roster.
The team can add one more player but all signs are pointing to the team leaving that roster spot open for a potential in-season move.
Marc Gasol’s future is still up in the air and the Lakers could theoretically trade him and open up a roster spot by doing so. Unless that happens, or Gasol outright retires, then the Lakers are done making moves.
Many critics are pointing out the age of the Lakers roster as a bad thing for the team. The Lakers are certainly old and experienced, and common sports knowledge tells us that the team is going to fall apart down the stretch as a result.
The ages of the Lakers roster are as followed:
- Carmelo Anthony: 37 (38 in May)
- LeBron James: 36 (37 in December)
- Marc Gasol: 36 (37 in January)
- Trevor Ariza: 36 (37 in June)
- Rajon Rondo: 35 (36 in February)
- Dwight Howard: 35 (36 in December)
- Wayne Ellington: 33 (34 in November)
- DeAndre Jordan: 33 (34 in July)
- Russell Westbrook: 32 (33 in November)
- Kent Bazemore: 32 (33 in July)
- Anthony Davis: 28 (29 in March)
- Kendrick Nunn: 26 (27 in August)
- Malik Monk: 23 (24 in February)
- Talen Horton-Tucker: 20 (21 in November)
For those counting at home, the average age of the Los Angeles Lakers roster will be 32.3 years old by the time the NBA Finals rolls around. Nine of the 14 players will be 33 or older by the time the Finals rolls around.
It is easy to be concerned about the age of the team. However, it is ultimately going to help the Lakers, not hurt them.
Why the age of the Los Angeles Lakers roster is a plus, not a drawback:
The benefits of this roster are obvious. More age means more experience in the league and it is safe to say that there is not a single team in the league that even comes close to having the experience that the Los Angeles Lakers have.
The only players on the team that do not have ample playoff experience are Kent Bazemore, Wayne Ellington and Malik Monk. Even Kendrick Nunn and Talen Horton-Tucker have been to the NBA Finals, facing off against each other in the 2020 NBA Finals.
In fact, the Lakers have seven of the top-25 players in the league in playoff minutes. They make up 28% of the top 25.
So why shouldn’t we be worried about the age and the team falling off late in the playoff run because of the age? It is simple: while old, the Los Angeles Lakers have an extremely deep rotation. In fact, it is safe to say that the Los Angeles Lakers roster is the deepest in the league.
The Lakers have 14 players currently signed on the roster. All 14 players are legitimate rotation players that would be part of the rotation on any other team in the NBA. There are no filler spots given out to veterans (sorry, Jared Dudley). No spots given out to young players who won’t contribute anything (THT two years ago).
Every single roster spot has someone who will contribute and help lessen the load off of their teammates. Of course, there will naturally be a hierarchy of the rotation but don’t be surprised if the Lakers go 14 deep during the season, limiting everyone’s playing time to keep them fresh.
Despite the team’s age, there is a good chance that they enter the playoffs as the most well-rested team in the league. The only player I can see getting massive minutes in the rotation is Russell Westbrook, who will start to take more of a backseat to LeBron and Davis when things start to matter.
Find another team that is 14 deep in legitimate rotation players. Only three players on this year’s Lakers team averaged fewer than 20 minutes per game last season. Bazemore averaged 19.9 minutes per game, Gasol averaged 19.1 and Howard averaged 17.3.
Yes, the Los Angeles Lakers roster is old but it is also constructed to negate the drawbacks of having an old roster while maximizing the benefits of having an old roster. It is roster construction 101 and Rob Pelinka has done an excellent job.