2. The Los Angeles Lakers are really thin right now and Kent Bazemore isn’t playing well
The Los Angeles Lakers have four members of the rotation that will all average around 20-25 minutes per game that have not played a minute with the team yet this season. Talen Horton-Tucker, Wayne Ellington, Kendrick Nunn and Trevor Ariza all haven’t played yet.
The Lakers rotation is really thin right now and it does not help that certain members of the rotation have not been playing as expected. One of those players is Kent Bazemore, who really hasn’t been great thus far.
Not to take a victory lap or anything but Bazemore was one of the players I highlighted before the season that would not be as good as expected and he hasn’t been. Bazemore is shooting 38.6% from the floor, 37.5% from three, 75% from the free-throw line and has been okay defensively.
Bazemore obviously should not be axed from the rotation but it would probably help both him and the team to take some minutes off his plate and allow him to focus on what he is good at.
The Lakers need to utilize Doumbouya’s minutes when they actually need them. There is not going to be as big of a need for another rotation player when the team starts to get healthy and fill out. There is a need right now.