After a 2018-19 season marred by injuries, the Lakers moved on from much of their young talent and traded for superstar big man Anthony Davis. With the pairing of LeBron James and Anthony Davis comes championship expectations, and rightly so. From limited preseason action it’s obvious that LeBron James and Anthony Davis can dominate the game playing off of one another, so it’s the players and coaching around them that will determine how far this team goes. I have a few questions about this team’s ability to win the championship this season. Will the perimeter shooting live up to the billing? Can Frank Vogel maximize the talents of James and Davis by utilizing an optimal rotation? Will Rob Pelinka acquire another perimeter ball handler/defender? By June we will have the answers to these questions, but right now I want to break down the roster of a Lakers team that is a legitimate contender for the first time since the 2011-12 season.

*The roster breakdown covers players expected to be in the rotation in some capacity

Guards

Avery Bradley: Bradley is a two time all-defensive team player, but by many measures his defense was sub-par last year. He supposedly dropped 40 pounds this off season and has been the talk of camp, with Frank Vogel even going as far as saying “if you’ve got the ball (near him), just pass it.” If Bradley can return to his all-defense form, or even something close to it, then the Lakers have a solid on-ball defender capable of, at the very least, bothering the plethora of elite guards in the West. This Laker team also needs Bradley to shoot better than last year’s 35.1% from three with the open looks he’ll get playing alongside LeBron and Anthony Davis, and for a guy who shot 40.4% on open looks last year that shouldn’t be a problem.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: KCP is the hardest player on the Lakers to watch, and after two years Lakers fans are sick of his lack of awareness and basketball IQ. Despite his very real flaws, he is a decent shooter who shot 34.7% on threes overall and 38.8% on open threes a year ago. He’s also always been a guy with requisite athleticism and tools to be a good defender, and at times he has been, but it hasn’t yet come together in an impactful way. The good news is that this team (hopefully) doesn’t need KCP to play big minutes or create offense. If he can check his ego and make himself into a better 3&D guy, then the Lakers have another useful player that can slow down opposing guards and take advantage of the spacing that James and Davis provide.

Alex Caruso: While fans are expecting Caruso to be the team’s third star (kidding) I expect him to be a serviceable third string point-guard with the upside for more. Caruso’s all around game is solid, and he plays good defense, but he needs to tighten his handle and develop a mid-range game if he wants to take more minutes from Rondo or Cook. Caruso will not play big minutes most of the time, but there are a couple scenarios in which Caruso could be in line for more minutes. If there is foul trouble or injuries with Green and Bradley in the back-court Caruso will be important. In these scenarios I hope Frank Vogel increases Caruso’s minutes rather than Rondo’s/Cook’s, or the defense will really suffer.

Quinn Cook: Cook was a valuable reserve for the Warriors last season, knocking down 40.5% of threes while competently managing some ball-handling duties. The Lakers will ask for similar work from Cook this season with LeBron and Rajon Rondo likely handling most of the ball-handling responsibilities. Unlike Rondo, Cook’s skill set should fit very well next to LeBron, so I hope Frank Vogel staggers their minutes together often. Cook is an undersized defender without the athleticism to make up for it, so while I am not expecting great defense, some effort would be a plus.

Troy Daniels: Daniels has been an elite shooter his entire career, and with the looks he’ll get playing with two superstars it’s reasonable to expect him to shoot better than the 40.1% he shot with Phoenix last season. Beyond shooting I don’t expect Daniels to contribute much to the team, but that’s fine by me because he was signed to be a shooter. Daniels’ limitations mean that he will not play big minutes and that the team will have to cover him up on defense, so he might fit better in the back court with Caruso, Bradley, or Green than he would with Cook or Rondo, though the latter’s playmaking would be tempting to pair with Daniels’ shooting.

Danny Green: The Lakers desperately needed a player that spaces the floor and guards other team’s best wing on any given night – enter Danny Green who agreed to sign with the Lakers for 2 yrs/$30 million this offseason. Green finished as the NBA’s #1 shooting guard in RPM last season while finishing #2 in three point percentage at 45.5%. He finished as the #1 RPM player at his position because he is an elite defender on top of being an elite shooter. Because of his dependable, multi-faceted skillset Green is the only player outside of James and Davis that can be used in nearly any lineup, which is invaluable in today’s positionless NBA. Green does have his weaknesses, he is a non-factor as a ball-handler and passer, but he knows his limits and does a good job playing to his strengths. The bottom line is that as of now, Green is the team’s third best player, and his rare ability to make others better without the ball will be beneficial all season long.

Rajon Rondo: I must admit that I was not a fan of the Lakers bringing Rondo back for another year, but he does still have strengths that can be advantageous if Frank Vogel staggers his minutes correctly. Rondo is a liability as a defender and as a perimeter shooter at this point in his career, though he remains an elite passer. I know that he shot almost 36% from three last year, but this is only because teams leave him open and dare him to shoot. The only way Rondo can positively impact this team is by playing roughly 15 minutes a game with the second unit when LeBron is off the floor. Rondo creates no spacing and provides no value off the ball, so he should never share the floor with LeBron. With the second unit he can pound the ball and create looks for guys that struggle to create their own shot. Rondo’s usage has the power to make or break the team this season, so I am placing my hope in Frank Vogel to utilize him appropriately.

Thoughts on this group: The three players that I think have the biggest range of outcomes in this group are KCP, Alex Caruso, and Avery Bradley. The rest of the guards have a narrow skillset that the team will be able to count on night in and night out. Alex Caruso is the most well rounded true point guard on this roster so it will be interesting to see if his jack of all trades play style gets him on the floor more than expected. Because he is a decent defender and knows how to play without the ball any improvement in his game could result in more minutes alongside LeBron James. Avery Bradley and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope each need to do two things well: shoot, and defend. Each has had their moments doing these things well at times in their career, but the level that they play at this year is what matters. Ideally both of these guys shoot and defend well enough that the Lakers don’t have to sacrifice defense and force one dimensional snipers (Cook, Daniels) onto the court to create spacing.

Forwards

Anthony Davis: Davis is without question the best big man in the game. He has virtually no weaknesses and is truly elite on both ends. His presence will make LeBron’s life exponentially easier, and LeBron has already gone on record saying he wants the offense to run through Davis. AD can score on the block, in the high post, on lobs, on spot ups from the midrange and the three-point line, as well as off the dribble – there’s no way to stop him. Davis also possesses guard-like ball-handling, and to a certain extent, passing skills that make him an appealing option to run the offense through at times. On defense AD will dominate opposing bigs while challenging for the blocks title, but he can also lock down guards on switches with his length and unusual foot speed. Anthony Davis will contend for MVP and DPOY while playing with one of the greatest ever. Expect a special season.

Jared Dudley: Dudley is a veteran who knows how to play the right way. He understands defensive coverages and rotations, how to move without the ball, and how to knock down an open three. All of these skills are welcome alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Dudley isn’t going to play big minutes, nor should he at his age, but his skillset and communication are going to help this team, and specifically its younger players in a big way.

LeBron James: You might have heard of this guy. You might have also heard all of the people doubting him and bashing on him this summer. As if he needed more motivation Anthony Davis also challenged him, saying “I want to make sure me and LeBron are on the All-Defensive team.” Judging by how he looked in the preseason and all of the early morning workout videos, it’s safe to say that the league should be scared of an angry, motivated, and rested LeBron James. There are still questions about his defense but I expect him to play harder on that end to silence his critics and prove that he is up to Anthony Davis’ challenge. LeBron as the ball-handler in pick and roll with the best big man in the NBA is simply unfair. AD along with a team full of shooters will open up lanes LeBron hasn’t seen since Miami, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he shoots 55%. His game speaks for itself and after averaging 27/8/8 last year, I don’t think I need to tell you what he can do with Anthony Davis and shooters around him.

Kyle Kuzma: Kuz’s improvement this season will go a long way to determining how far the Lakers go in the playoffs. If he can take advantage of the spacing his new teammates will provide and spike his efficiency along with improving his defense… watch out. Kuzma shot only 31.2% on wide open threes last season, and he’s about to get a lot more. He spent the whole offseason reworking his shooting mechanics so I would bet on that number going up. If Kuz can shoot around 38% (league average) on open threes it will open up the rest of his game as defenders close harder. If he struggles with efficiency again he might be best served as a volume scorer off the bench. As for his defense, Kuz has the ability to be disruptive with his size on the perimeter. Against smaller wing players he can be physical and prevent them from getting to their spots, as well as bothering them with his length on contests. These smaller players have taken advantage of Kuz’s lack of foot speed in the past and I know that will happen again this year, but if Kuz can play to his strengths and become even an average defender he comes that much closer to being the third star this team needs.

Thoughts on this group: This group is thin. Fortunately, it includes two of the top five players in the NBA, but it’s missing something. This group needs a versatile forward that can handle the ball, initiate the offense, and guard at a high level. Obviously, Andre Iguodala fits this description, and while he is said to want to play in LA with the Lakers or Clippers he has to be bought out first and even then who knows what team he’ll choose. I expect the Lakers to be very active in the buyout and trade markets searching for another versatile forward. As for the group the team has, the two superstars will be formidable in the two man game, which will be the team’s offensive foundation all season long. Outside of James and Davis Kuzma is the only player on the roster that can create his own shot at a high level. Because of that ability he will take some pressure off LeBron and Anthony Davis and he is well served for playing alongside just one of these players while another rests. Kuzma also represents the best option to play the power forward if Anthony Davis slides to center in what is, in my opinion, the Lakers best overall lineup. I expect Dudley to play some four alongside Anthony Davis while LeBron sits as well, with the rest of his minutes coming in bench lineups where he can space the floor and hold down the defensive communication.

Centers

Dwight Howard: He’s back! Only this time he seems humble and ready to put his ego aside (but we’ll see). Dwight is going to do four things for the Lakers this year: dunk, protect the rim, set screens, and rebound. In the preseason he has done these things well and I am hopeful that he can provide quality minutes at the 5 when Javale is on the bench. One thing I’m watching for this season is his pick and roll defense. His foot speed has gone downhill the last few years, but he is still a decent athlete that should be passable in P&R defense.

Javale McGee: Bringing back Javale for a little over $4 million a year was a no-brainer after his encouraging season last year. He offers similar skills to Dwight Howard though he’s younger, more athletic, and a bit more versatile. His rim protection and lob gravity are his bread and butter, but his size allows him to grab rebounds even when he is out of position (as he often finds himself). You can live with the occasional bonehead play because he’s an active big who plays hard when he’s in the game. Javale’s pick and roll defense was great until he got Pneumonia last year, and then it really dropped off so I’ll be watching that closely. Expect him to start and get a lot of easy buckets courtesy of LeBron and AD.

Thoughts on this group: The two centers have almost identical skillsets, but I think this is a good thing. Frank Vogel has stressed the need for the Lakers to keep a rim protecting center in the paint as much as possible. With Dwight Howard Javale McGee being in the game most of the time the Lakers will have an elite rim protector on the floor for the majority of the game. The rim protection will allow perimeter defenders to close out harder on three point shooters, making the defense that much harder to score against. Each of these guys also is a threat to throw down a lob dunk every possession, which keeps the opposing help defenders honest, leading to more layups and dunks for drivers.

Final Thoughts

I truly believe that the Los Angeles Lakers have a championship caliber team. That being said, it will take experimenting with lineups over 82 games and finding the right groups of players that play well off one another for the team to reach its potential. Rob Pelinka must do everything he can to give coach Vogel another talented wing player for him to mix and match in the rotation. Whether Pelinka accomplishes this or not, Frank Vogel has a championship caliber roster, and it’s on him to employ the rotations and schemes that will get it there. Health is another big key as all Lakers fans know after the last few years, and the team brought in the highly qualified Judy Seto to oversee the training staff which is promising. Outside of coaching and health, I believe that the consistency with which the team’s role players shoot and defend will determine whether the Lakers are merely a playoff team, or a title contending team. Teams are going to throw everything they have at stopping LeBron James and Anthony Davis, so it will be up to role players to do their job and take the team to its full potential. For the first time in a long time there is reason for Lakers fans to believe that the team can meet the relentless expectation that comes with playing in Los Angeles: winning the NBA championship.