Leading up to the All-Star break, the Los Angeles Lakers played some of the best basketball of their entire season. Winning six games out of seven heading into the week-long break, they will enter the final 26-game stretch of the year as one of the hottest teams in the Western Conference.
But their collective success does not point to individual success all across the roster. While there have been obvious standout performers, some other Lakers players are going to have to put on a clinic for the remainder of the season to have a chance at still being on the roster when next season rolls around.
These three players represent the Lakers with the most to lose in home stretch of the 2023-24 regular season.
Taurean Prince
Joining the Lake Show over the summer via free agency, Taurean Prince left the Minnesota Timberwolves to sign in Los Angeles, taking a pay cut in the process. Since arriving in town, he has played in 53 of a possible 56 games, starting in 48 of those games.
But it is safe to say that the challenge of becoming a full-time starter for the Lakers has proved somewhat daunting for Prince. After coming off the bench in Minnesota and playing less than 20 minutes per night in his two seasons there, he is playing 30.1 minutes per game in Los Angeles this season.
The lights are bright when playing for one of the most accomplished franchises in league history, and Prince's production has been inconsistent so far this season. He will absolutely need to put together a strong performance over the final 26 games to assure his spot on the team going forward.