Veteran free-agent changes for the Los Angeles Lakers:
The Los Angeles Lakers signed some solid veterans and did a good job of building a deep rotation (when it is healthy). That being said, there are still some players that I would switch out, both of which are coming from the Golden State Warriors.
Otto Porter Jr. in place of Kent Bazemore
I don’t want to take a victory lap on Kent Bazemore just yet as he was a signing that I criticized here on Lake Show Life and some fans did not like that and argued that Bazemore would be a difference-maker.
Bazemore has not been very good this season and has seen his playing time shrink and shrink as a result. Meanwhile, Otto Porter continues to be a great shooter from beyond the arc while also playing serviceable defense that, at the very least, is as good as Bazemore.
Nemanja Bjelica in place of DeAndre Jordan
The Los Angeles Lakers don’t need two traditional centers. Anthony Davis should be playing the five more and signing Nemanja Bjelica instead of Dwight Howard could help accomplish that. Bjelica could log some minutes at the five but with Davis being a better rebounder, he would end up spending more time near the rim with Bjelica on the court.
Bjelica is another shooting option that really helps with the team’s floor spacing. It would not be as much of an issue with Westbrook not on the team but the Lakers should still be looking for players that can stretch the floor without sacrificing too much.
Bjelica does just that.
Final rotation:
- PG: Lonzo Ball
- SG: Buddy Hield
- SF: LeBron James
- PF: Anthony Davis
- C: Dwight Howard
- 6th: Carmelo Anthony
- 7th: Alex Caruso
- 8th: Talen Horton-Tucker
- 9th: Kendrick Nunn
- 10th: Nemanja Bjelica
- 11th: Otto Porter
- 12th: Trevor Ariza
- 13th: Malik Monk
- 14th: Rajon Rondo
Now tell me that isn’t a loaded, and deep, basketball team.