3 Most likely positions the Lakers will use for the last roster spot
By Jason Reed
1. Power forward
This was a problem for the Los Angeles Lakers last season and it could be a problem for the team this season as well. Los Angeles does not have any real depth behind Anthony Davis at the point guard position, which does not make sense with how this roster is constructed.
Sure, they have forwards like Juan Toscano-Anderson and Troy Brown Jr. who could theoretically play a smaller four. But when it comes to traditional power forwards, the only real option is Wenyen Gabriel, who is not the best.
Granted, most of the players that the Lakers are tied to this offseason are not power forwards. However, even if they made a trade for Hield and Turner, they would essentially be getting another frontcourt presence like a backup power forward by adding Turner into the mix. Since he and Thomas Bryant can hit shots, that suffices.
Perhaps the most compelling person to give the final roster spot to is Cole Swider. The undrafted free agent was a sharpshooter at Syracuse and then turned that into being the best shooter during the entire Summer League.
The Lakers desperately lack three-point shooting and would really benefit from a stretch four who could hit shots at a clip as efficient as Swider. If I was Rob Pelinka, I would be converting his two-day deal into a standard NBA contract and give Jay Huff the other two-way spot.