3 keys to the Los Angeles Lakers shocking the world next season
By Jason Reed
3. The Los Angeles Lakers need more help from the role players
Even if the Los Angeles Lakers trade Russell Westbrook and Davis is completely healthy it is going to be really hard to win a title with the current projection of the roster. The first two keys will put the team in the conversation for the title but securing this third key will ultimately result in the team winning it all.
Los Angeles simply needs more help from the role players than they are currently projected to get this season. Some of that involves adding talent and some of it involves stepping up. There is a realistic path to the team getting that extra help as well.
Role players that can step up and produce more than expected: Thomas Bryant, Kendrick Nunn, Lonnie Walker IV
These are your breakout candidates; the players who can elevate their play and play a bigger role in the rotation than we expected before. Los Angeles does not need all three to step up but if the team can have two of these players be the best version of themselves that would be huge.
Adding a role player via trade
This could come as part of the Kyrie Irving trade if the Lakers also acquire Joe Harris or it could come by flipping Talen Horton-Tucker for a different role player. Regardless, the Lakers should be looking to add at least one role player via trade that will produce more than THT will.
Snagging impact buyout signings
This could be someone like Patrick Beverley or Kevin Love. Heck, it does not even need to be a big name. If the Lakers can get an impact buyout guy that plays quality minutes in the postseason then the title odds shoot up drastically.
In 2020 that buyout player was Markieff Morris, whose 42% three-point percentage in that year’s playoffs is third in franchise history for a single playoff run. If they can get something like that the Lakers are in good shape.