Projecting the ideal five-man Lakers second unit for 2024-25 season

The Los Angeles Lakers boast one of the best starting lineups in the NBA. It's a bold claim that will likely be scoffed at, but the statistics provide evidence to support the eye test as All-NBA stars Anthony Davis and LeBron James lead a cast of starting-caliber players.

The question in Los Angeles, however, is whether or not first-year head coach JJ Redick can find a way to properly complement that starting five with quality depth.

The five-man lineup of Davis, Rui Hachimura, James, Austin Reaves, and D'Angelo Russell outscored opponents by 6.6 points per 100 possessions in 2023-24. All five players proved capable of taking over games, and each looked the part of a current or future star when given consistent playing time.

Unfortunately, Los Angeles' second unit wasn't quite as successful, ranking 28th in the NBA in scoring and 19th in net rating.

The hope is that injuries won't disrupt the Lakers' second unit chemistry quite as badly as they did in 2023-24. There's also optimism that the 2024 NBA Draft has provided Los Angeles with enough incoming firepower to revamp its bench.

Point Guard: Gabe Vincent

In 2023, the Lakers signed Gabe Vincent to a three-year, $33 million contract to anchor the second unit. Unfortunately, injuries kept him off the court for a vast majority of the 2023-24 campaign, as he missed 71 regular season games.

If Vincent is able to stay healthy, then he could be the most heavily-featured reserve on the Lakers' roster in 2024-25.

Looking back to the 2022-23 season, when Vincent appeared in 68 games with the Miami Heat, it's easy to be optimistic about how much he could help the Lakers in 2024-25. He finished his final season in Miami with averages of 9.4 points, 2.5 assists, and 0.9 steals in 25.9 minutes per game.

Beyond the regular season numbers—13.1 points, 3.4 assists, and 1.3 steals per 36 minutes—is a player who was one of the breakout performers of the 2023 NBA Playoffs.

Vincent averaged 12.7 points and 2.3 three-point field goals made on 37.8 percent shooting from beyond the arc during Miami's run to the NBA Finals. He scored at least 20 points in five different games, including the 22 points and six assists he tallied to close out the Milwaukee Bucks and the 29 he scored in a crucial Game 3 win over the Boston Celtics in the Conference Finals.

Throw in the fact that he's one of the better defenders at his position, and the Lakers will be looking to Vincent to occupy the role of sixth man in 2024-25.

Shooting Guard: Max Christie

Earlier this summer, Max Christie re-signed with the Lakers on a four-year, $32 million contract. Outside of re-signing LeBron James, it was the only move Los Angeles made in free agency, which certainly implies that Christie will have a larger role than what he was given under Darvin Ham.

A 3-and-D wing who has all of the tools to occupy one of the most important roles on the team, Christie could be the key to unlocking a healthy second unit's potential.

Rolling out a backcourt of Christie and Vincent would give Los Angeles depth at guard that it simply lacked in 2023-24. Between Christie's average of 14.1 minutes per game and Vincent's injuries, the Lakers never saw what this duo could achieve.

With Vincent playing as more of a midrange and downhill scoring threat, Christie's ability to space the floor will be essential to helping the Lakers' second unit flourish.

The promising sign for the Lakers is that Christie is shooting 37.8 percent from beyond the arc through two NBA seasons. That's especially impressive when one considers how erratic his playing time has been during that time.

If Christie is able to shoot at an efficient clip from beyond the arc and defend at the level expected of him, that alone could push the Lakers closer to having a viable second unit.

Small Forward: Dalton Knecht

There's a bit of positional ambiguity here, as Dalton Knecht is the prototypical wing from a physical perspective. He has the size, quickness, and overall athleticism to thrive in the off-guard role, as well as the weight and projected strength to play the 3.

Likely to be tasked with providing the second unit with shooting, Knecht should have ample offensive opportunities in this five-man lineup as the structural small forward.

Knecht, an incoming rookie, finished the 2023-24 season as one of the most prolific scorers in the country. He ranked No. 8 in the nation and No. 1 in the SEC with 21.7 points per game, and he did so while burying 2.6 three-point field goals per contest on 39.7 percent shooting from beyond the arc.

Even looking past the fact that Knecht is one of the best downhill scoring threats in this draft class, the range and quick release on his jump shot could make him invaluable as soon as 2024-25.

In a perfect world, Knecht utilizes his quickness, explosive leaping ability, and impressive skill set to thrive as a three-level scorer as soon as his rookie season. More realistically, he'll occupy an off-ball role when playing with the starters and have chances to showcase his versatility with the second unit.

It's unlikely that Knecht will match the eight 30-point games he recorded in 2023-24, but he'll have a unique opportunity to play through his mistakes as perhaps the best all-around scorer on the Lakers' bench.

Power Forward: Jarred Vanderbilt

Jarred Vanderbilt signed a four-year, $48 million extension after playing just 26 regular season games with the Lakers in 2022-23. Identified by Los Angeles as a defensive specialist, he projected to play a crucial role for the team in 2023-24.

Unfortunately, injuries impacted Vanderbilt's availability, forcing him to miss 53 games—a fact that hasn't changed how important he'll be in 2024-25.

Vanderbilt's primary value to the Lakers will be his on-ball defense, primarily along the perimeter. In this lineup, he'll pair with Christie and Vincent as a three-headed defensive monster that can ideally hold opponents in check for stretches of the game.

That should also enable Vanderbilt to see the court with the starters, especially if the Lakers are able to get back to the playoffs.

It's worth noting that, despite his injury woes, Vanderbilt's impact on the Lakers was immense when he was healthy last season. Los Angeles posted a net rating of +4.2 when he was on the court and ranked in the 84th percentile in point differential when he played with Anthony Davis.

If the Lakers want to create balance along the second unit, then complementing Knecht's offensive play with Vanderbilt's defense would make for a promising combination of forwards.

Center: Christian Wood

When healthy, Christian Wood is one of the most interesting offensive forwards in the NBA. He's produced All-Star numbers on a per-36 basis, played four consecutive seasons as one of the best three-point shooters at his position, and has even flashed potential as a passer.

Coming off of what was easily the worst season of his NBA career, however, the 28-year-old has something to prove—and should have the opportunity to do so in 2024-25.

Between 2019-20 and 2022-23, Wood averaged 16.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.6 offensive boards, 1.7 assists, 1.0 block, and 1.5 three-point field goal made on .520/.382/.692 shooting. That translated to 22.2 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.2 offensive boards, 2.3 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 2.0 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes.

With Vanderbilt primarily providing value on defense at power forward, Wood creates the ideal interior balance as a versatile scoring threat.

If Wood is healthy and playing up to his potential, then the Lakers would have a Sixth Man of the Year candidate on their hands. He's been an efficient scoring option throughout his NBA career, thus lending credence to the belief that his 2023-24 campaign was a statistical anomaly.

Playing Wood at center screams small-ball, but it's a situational tactic the Lakers can employ as they navigate the regular season.