3 players on the Lakers roster that need more minutes from Frank Vogel

By Jason Reed | Feb 12, 2022

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 28: Dwight Howard #39 of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up prior to the first half of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on January 28, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2. Wayne Ellington

Wayne Ellington is a bit redundant with players like Malik Monk and Carmelo Anthony, who both are playing big roles in the rotation. It is admittedly pretty hard to play Ellington next to one of Monk and Carmelo and playing all three together is less than ideal.

They are all the same mold of being a good three-point shooter while being poor on the defensive end. Sure, the Lakers would be littered with off-ball shooters in this case but the defense would be horrible.

I would argue that the defense is horrible anyway, though, and the Lakers might as well surround the floor with shooters that can hit open looks. At this point in the year you have to throw something at the wall and hope it sticks and maybe, just maybe, a lineup of LeBron, Anthony Davis, Wayne Ellington, Carmelo Anthony and Malik Monk can strangely work.

Regardless, Ellington is 19.3 minutes per game and he should be getting over 20 minutes per game. Avery Bradley is averaging 23.7 minutes per game and has not been good at all and the Lakers would be better off giving some of those minutes to Ellington.

Raise Ellington to somewhere around 23 minutes per game and reduce Bradley down to 16-17 minutes per game. Sure, Ellington has not been jaw-dropping this season but he has been right there with Monk and Carmelo as the most consistent shooters on this team. That deserves playing time.

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