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10. Marcelo Huertas

At this point, it’s a toss-up whether Marcelo Huertas or Calderon gets more burn as the primary backup point guard. But given that Huertas, 33, already has a year with the team, as well as considerable on-court chemistry with key players, he may wind up getting the nod.

The Brazilian-born guard was a longtime star overseas before signing with L.A. last season as the league’s oldest rookie. His defense is spotty, but his passes are a thing of beauty.

9. Tarik Black

Tarik Black was woefully underused by Scott last season, but the 6'10" backup center was re-signed during the offseason and will now have a chance for a more significant role.

"Tarik is a player whose strengths are well-suited for the style of play we envision for our team going forward," general manager Mitch Kupchak said in an official statement. "He plays the game with a mix of athleticism, energy and physicality that make him a valuable frontcourt contributor in today’s NBA."

Black has plenty of hustle and a knack for finishing hard at the rim off the pick-and-roll. He’ll have to improve his shot-making ability to truly maximize his worth in an open-court system.

8. Louis Williams

Louis Williams was an integral part of the squad last season, starting 35 games and averaging 15.3 points in 28.5 minutes overall. Scott used the former Sixth Man of the Year at both guard positions and gave him free rein as a scorer. And that’s what Williams is all about—having the ball in his hands and putting it in the bucket.

But whether that flies with Walton—or lead assistant Brian Shaw for that matter—will be a closely watched storyline this season. If Williams doesn’t show a greater willingness to share the rock and play both ends of the floor, his role is likely to be diminished.

7. Larry Nance Jr.

This could very well be a breakout year for Nance Jr. The high-flying dunker was a highlight reel in his rookie season, although hampered at times by a continued recovery from college knee surgery. He has since continued to grow his shooting game and was a major force in summer-league action before spraining his wrist.

But where does the sophomore power forward best fit in on this roster? He shares the same natural position as Randle, but Nance Jr. (6'9", 230 lbs) also showed real promise as an undersized center last season and can even slide to the 3 in certain matchups.

Walton’s free-flowing offensive system and shared accountability should be a great fit for the four-year man from Wyoming—a dedicated two-way player with loads of untapped potential.

6. Brandon Ingram

The Lakers selected Ingram as their No. 2 overall draft pick in June with hopes of future superstardom. But the skinny 6'9" wing will need seasoning and added strength before he achieves such lofty expectations.

"We’re not going to throw him into the starting lineup right away," Walton said, per Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News. "You develop the young core by rewarding them when they play well."

Luol Deng will likely get the starting nod at small forward to start, and it should not be surprising for the 19-year-old Ingram to experience major growing pains as a rook. He’ll also flash more than a little brilliance along the way.