Lakers News: Insider Projects Opening Night Starting Five For LA
The Los Angeles Lakers have had quite the offseason so far.
They started it by getting great value in the 2023 NBA Draft when they selected Jalen Hood-Schifino and Maxwell Lewis, and they brought back many of their impending free agents soon after the period began.
All things considered, LA is well positioned to run it back next season with key members of the team that led them to the Western Conference Finals last year and should certainly be considered one of the top contenders in the West.
There is one big question that LA will have to come to a conclusion on though.
Who should be in the Lakers starting five next season.
Jovan Buha of The Athletic provided his thoughts on that subject, and he laid out his projected starting five on Thursday.
To get the world's most obvious selections out of the way, Buha's starting unit is anchored by LeBron James and Anthony Davis, as those two are set to begin their fifth season as teammates in the purple and gold.
Joining that superstar duo is D'Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves at the one and two spots, respectively.
Russell was re-acquired by LA at last season's trade deadline and had a largely successful second stint with the Lakers before finishing it off with a disappointing postseason. Nonetheless, Russell is a highly skilled guard that should have another solid season with the team.
Reaves is coming off his best season as a pro and had an excellent postseason for LA. He was a consistent option offensively, putting up just under 17 points per game, collecting 4.4 rebounds and dishing out 4.6 assists per game in his first playoff appearance. He was extremely efficient as well, particularly from deep where he shot 44 percent from three during the Lakers playoff run.
Rounding out the projected lineup is Rui Hachimura. He was another who emerged in the playoffs, starting it off with a standout first round against the Memphis Grizzlies and improving going forward. Hachimura was reliable as well to the tune of 12 points per contest on 55 percent shooting, largely due to an extremely effective midrange shot.
Whatever the Lakers decide to do when it comes to the lineup, they'll have one of the more impressive rosters in the league with a superstar duo and plenty of depth along side them.
All in all, it should be another fun year in the City of Angels.
