The Los Angeles Lakers not only constructed a roster this summer with Luka Doncic in mind; they also added players that head coach JJ Redick should be fond of.
Lakers analyst/writer Trevor Lane discussed this on a recent episode of the Buha's Block podcast, noting that Redick likes players who can "dribble, pass and shoot" -- in other words, skilled guys.
Redick's been talking about this theme since he took the Lakers job. Last season, when LA was dealing with injuries, Redick asserted that the Lakers needed more guys who could handle the ball.
Signing Austin Reaves to an extension fell in line with JJ Redick's preference for skilled players
Reaves gives the Lakers an elite ball handler and creator/scorer who can operate with or without Doncic on the floor. He's also a very good shooter. It's no surprise, given the stuff mentioned above about Redick, that the Lakers made sure to sign Reaves to a new deal this offseason.
Going out and getting Collin Sexton was another move of this ilk for Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka. Sexton is an underrated shooter and gives LA yet another gifted ball handler capable of running the show or scoring whenever needed.
Sandro Mamukelashvili was another highly-skilled addition. He can shoot the leather off the ball and also makes good reads and decisions on the floor. With Walker Kessler operating as a traditional rim-running five (and Kevon Looney, for that matter), Mamukelashvili should slide in perfectly as a stretch four in various lineups.
When Matisse Thybulle's three-ball is falling, he's also an overall skilled player on both ends of the floor. And even when Thybulle goes through a cold shooting stretch, you can still count on him to move the basketball and make good decisions. He's a high-IQ player.
What the Lakers don't want are ball-stoppers
Players like Dennis Schroder or Cam Thomas -- with all due respect to both guys -- are the kinds of assets that Redick (and thus Pelinka) wouldn't be attracted to. They hold the ball for too long, and that's not going to mesh well on a Luka team.
Doncic creates so much gravity when he's on the floor, and if any other player is intent on dominating the ball for a significant chunk of the shot clock, that Luka gravity goes to waste. You need guys like Quentin Grimes, who can make rapid-fire decisions off the catch and attack closeouts. You need guys like Thybulle or Jake LaRavia who usually limit their dribble package to one or two bounces before moving off the ball. The Lakers are aware of this.
JJ Redick should have plenty of flexibility with this Lakers roster
Having a bunch of skilled players creates flexibility. It allows you to play guys at different positions and create all sorts of different lineup combinations. Lane even wondered aloud how often Redick might experiment with Doncic-Reaves-Sexton lineups. It's very possible, seeing as both Reaves and Sexton can play off the ball.
The Lakers are going to have their defensive question marks, that's for sure. We've always known that a Doncic-Reaves team would. But in terms of offense, this team should be one of the five most productive and exciting squads in the Association, especially with Redick in charge.
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