Projecting which Lakers lineups will have us pulling our hair out most and least

Free agency has wound down and the Los Angeles Lakers roster is essentially set in stone. There are still a few moves to be made around the edges to get the roster to 15, but we already know most of the guys who will be around.

We don't know exactly how JJ Redick will use the new additions to this roster — DeAndre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRvia — though, so the first few weeks of the season will contain some mixing and matching from the head coach. Here are a few lineup combinations I think will work... and a few I think will cause Lakers fans to throw the TV remote.

Projecting the most frustrating Lakers lineups this season

Okay, maybe it's a bit of a cheat to say that a lineup without LeBron James will be frustrating to watch. Like, yeah, duh, right?

But this is probably a lineup we see a decent amount; JJ Redick will try to keep at least one of Luka and LeBron on the court most of the time, and DeAndre Ayton will probably float a bit between playing with the starters and the backups.

This lineup will be frustrating because, on paper, you can convince yourself it has both offensive upside with Luka running the point, and defensive viability with good size from four positions... but I see it closer to a unit that has no consistent shooting and not enough switchability on defense. Stay away from this one as much as possible, JJ.

I know that teams have to run out all-bench units sometimes, and I know the Lakers don't have that many potential all-bench lineups... but with that being said, I am afraid we're going to see this unit at some point this year, and I do not belive it will go well at all.

JJ Redick is a good coach. He also outthinks himself on occasion, and this lineup would be an example of that.

Projecting the most successful Lakers lineups this season

I know that fans are excited about DeAndre Ayton's arrival in L.A. and that's fine! I think he'll be better in Los Angeles than he was in Phoenix or Portland, as his offensive role with the Lakers should be considerably smaller than it was in his other two stops.

But I still think when Luka, LeBron, and Austin Reaves are all on the court, the Lakers should try to balance their offensive output (and domination of the ball) with defensive anchors, which DeAndre Ayton randomly becomes a couple times per year, but can't be on a regular basis. Adding Vanderbilt and Smart to the Big 3 would actually provide the two-way balance Redick will be searching for.

You wanna get nuts? Let's get a little nuts. Smart and Reaves in the backcourt, LaRavia and Rui on the wings and LeBron playing sort of a floater center position. Why not?

I'm imagining the ball movement this lineup would manufacure and it's, simply, beautiful. Marcus Smart was the Celtics point guard for a while, in case you forgot, and Austin Reaves became a pretty damn good passer himself last year, too. LaRavia and Rui aren't natural facilitators but they'd be more cutters / play finishers in this lineup, anyway. Could be fun!

What will the Lakers starting lineup look like?

This... I think!

At least to start the season, I think JJ sticks with his guys with the addition of Ayton at the five. I'd be shocked if Smart didn't eventually crack the starting five, and maybe LaRavia slides in for Rui on occasion. But in October, this is what I think we'll see.