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Los Angeles Lakers roster: 3 players who could get axed from the rotation

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 19: Head coach Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to a call during the first half of an NBA Tournament Play-In game against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on May 19, 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 Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 19: Head coach Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to a call during the first half of an NBA Tournament Play-In game against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on May 19, 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 Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers
Rajon Rondo #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

The Los Angeles Lakers roster, despite its age, is one of the deepest in the entire league. The Lakers just converted Austin Reaves to a standard NBA contract, moving the roster to 14 players deep. Of those 14, 13 are legitimate rotation players that can play a role next season.

A lot of the decisions that Frank Vogel is going to have to make is going to depend on who is living up to expectations and who is falling short. There are a lot of moving pieces on this team and the rotation in October is not going to be the rotation in May.

With that in mind, there are three players on the Lakers roster who are projected to be part of the rotation to start the year that very well could be axed by the time the season is over and the number shrinks to 10 or so players.

Three players on the Los Angeles Lakers roster at risk of being axed from the rotation:

1. Rajon Rondo

Rajon Rondo is currently the third point guard on the Los Angeles Lakers and while it was a savvy signing, it does not guarantee that Rondo will be in the rotation all season. While Rondo was instrumental in the team’s 2020 title, he played really poorly for the Hawks and the Clippers last season, particularly in the playoffs.

With Russell Westbrook taking a good chunk of minutes as well as Kendrick Nunn behind him, Rondo is really going to have to earn minutes late in the season. Of course, if playoff Rondo shows back up then he is going to make it impossible to ax him from the rotation.

However, playoff Rondo did not show up last year and there absolutely is a reality in which Rondo is reduced to the bench veteran who provides valuable insight and is a locker room glue guy.

He will continue to get looks in the regular season as he helps take some of the burden off of the stars but unless he shines in those chances, we might not even see many chances for playoff Rondo to show up.

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