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The domino effect of the Lakers not passing on the DeMar DeRozan trade

By Jason Reed

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MARCH 09: DeMar DeRozan #11 of the Chicago Bulls enters the game in the second half against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on March 09, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. Chicago won the game 114-108. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MARCH 09: DeMar DeRozan #11 of the Chicago Bulls enters the game in the second half against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on March 09, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. Chicago won the game 114-108. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

What the Los Angeles Lakers roster would look like with DeMar DeRozan

Starting five: 

  • PG: Alex Caruso
  • SG: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
  • SF: DeMar DeRozan
  • PF: LeBron James
  • C: Anthony Davis

There obviously would have been different iterations of the starting lineup that were thrown out there but this essentially operates at the team’s best five-man lineup, so we are dubbing it as the starting lineup.

And boy, is it miles better than what the Los Angeles Lakers currently have. This lineup has really good perimeter defense in Caruso and KCP (you know, like it was before) to match up with Anthony Davis.

It also has that third star in DeRozan would have worked great as an off-ball movement piece as well as someone who could have created offense alongside LeBron. This is essentially the 2020 championship Lakers but switching out Danny Green for DeMar DeRozan. Why wasn’t this what the Lakers did!?!?!? 

Reserves: 

  • 6th: Malik Monk
  • 7th: Carmelo Anthony
  • 8th: Herbert Jones
  • 9th: Talen Horton-Tucker
  • 10th: Dwight Howard
  • 11th: Stanley Johnson
  • 12th: Avery Bradley
  • 13th: Wayne Ellington
  • 14th: Austin Reaves
  • 15th: Kendrick Nunn

We are cheating a bit and assuming that the Los Angeles Lakers still signed Stanley Johnson during the season and the reason is because of Kendrick Nunn being hurt. The Lakers still would have signed Nunn for the Taxpayer’s MLE as they had no idea he would not play this season. Can’t change that.

While this is a lot of the same pieces (plus Herbert Jones), the important thing is they are playing such a smaller role. Avery Bradley and Talen Horton-Tucker do not need to play a combined 49 minutes per game. They can play a combined 30 minutes per game.

The team has its shooters in Monk and Anthony straight off the bench with Jones being a much better Trevor Ariza than Trevor Ariza is while still having the traditional backup center in Dwight Howard with the other ancillary pieces at the end of the rotation.

Next. 50 greatest Lakers of all-time. dark

This team is miles better than the current version of the Lakers and would probably finish with a record that is at least 20 games better than this year’s actual team.

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