Lakers: What Should the New Starting Lineup and Rotation Look Like After the Trade Deadline?
The Los Angeles Lakers were one of the most active teams at this year's trade deadline, making four different deals that brought in six new faces. The new-look Lakers have played two games so far since the deadline (they've played three games but the first one didn't feature the new guys), but both have been without their superstar LeBron James.
We've started to get a good feel of what the team could and should look like, but we won't exactly know how this team will fare until LeBron returns. However, the Lakers have just 24 games left on their schedule, and are currently the No. 13 seed in the West. So it's really now or never for the team to figure things out.
Luckily for them, I have a pretty good sense of the new players, and feel confident in saying how the lineups should look when LeBron returns. So, here's the starting lineup head coach Darvin Ham should utilize for the last two months of the season (I have two options):
PG: D'Angelo Russell
SG: Malik Beasley
SF: Austin Reaves
PF: LeBron James
C: Anthony Davis
This is option No. 1, and would provide a ton of shooting and versatility around LeBron and AD. Russell can be the primary ball-handler when LeBron wants to play off the ball. And when LeBron wants the ball in his hand, he can either get it to AD in the post, or swing it to any of the high-level shooters who will be ready to knock down a three. Defensively, the Lakers would have perimeter versatility with Beasley and Reaves, and will have AD to lock down the paint. Here's the other option:
PG: D'Angelo Russell
SG: Malik Beasley OR Austin Reaves
SF: LeBron James
PF: Jarred Vanderbilt
C: Anthony Davis
The lineup is similar to the first one, although it replaces one of Beasley or Reaves with Vanderbilt, whose defense and energy have already turned him into a fan favorite on the court. If the Lakers needed to match up with a team like the Los Angeles Clippers — who have Paul George and Kawhi Leonard — Vanderbilt would make more sense in the starting lineup.
Okay, so those are my lineups, so what does that mean for the rest of the rotation?
Dennis Schröder slides into the sixth man role, bringing instant offense off the bench. Obviously, whoever didn't start between Beasley/Reaves/Vanderbilt will join him, bringing energy and two-way play on the court. Rui Hachimura will also come in with him to provide some length.
Then, there's Troy Brown Jr. and Lonnie Walker IV, who will switch off playing the role of the backup shooting guard. Brown will come in when the team needs more defensive help, while Walker will be there when the team needs an offensive jolt if Schröder is struggling.
Finally, there are the big men — Wenyen Gabriel and Mo Bamba.
Bamba should be the first big off the bench, and could even play next to AD at times to form one of the best shot-blocking duos in the league. Moreover, Bamba can also space the floor, which makes him an even better fit if the Lakers wanted to go big.
As for Gabriel, his energy has always been a boost, but he likely falls out of the rotation when Vanderbilt and Bamba are in. Gabriel can come in if the big men are struggling with foul trouble, but he'll likely spend a majority of the games on the bench.
As for Max Christie and Davon Reed, they'll only get into a game when there's a blowout — hopefully, in favor of the Lakers.
So, hopefully Darvin Ham was reading this, because this is how the lineups should look when everyone is back and healthy. The Lakers have 24 more games to get into playoff contention. There's no more time to mess around.
