Crafting the Lakers' ideal 5-man starting lineup after the trade deadline
By Jason Reed
Despite the high expectations entering the 2023-24 season, the Los Angeles Lakers have not been able to figure out the team's starting lineup. Some players haven't shown up as expected while Darvin Ham continues to make odd decisions with the rotation as a whole.
The 2024 trade deadline is likely going to change that. With LeBron James already sending a public message to the front office, fans can expect there to be some sort of player movement. Hopefully, this will allow Darvin Ham to actually lock in a starting five that makes sense for the purple and gold.
Fans saw a completely new starting five get born at the deadline last season and that could happen yet again this year. Unlike last season where the team was shackled by Russell Westbrook, the team actually has various options to explore to craft a title-winning starting five.
The Lakers' key is a starting five that makes sense with LeBron James and Anthony Davis
This is a big problem that the Lakers face right now. The new starting lineup of LeBron, AD, Jarred Vanderbilt, Cam Reddish and Taurean Prince does not make much sense at all next to LeBron and AD. There are three good defenders, sure, but there is no real point guard and no offensive threat outside of the two stars.
That needs to change. If the Lakers are going to win a title, the starting five has to make sense next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Those two are obviously always going to be in the starting five, and will essentially operate as the power forward and center in this lineup.
With that in mind, let's dive into the rest of the starting five to create the ideal Lakers lineup after the 2024 trade deadline.