Lakers’ Projected Rotations Take Shape After 2 Preseason Games

With 2 preseason games in the books and 4 to go, the Lakers’ projected starting lineup and 10-man rotation surrounding superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis for the coming season is slowly starting to take shape.

Darvin Ham has already committed to LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves, and D’Angelo Russell as his starters with Jarred Vanderbilt, Rui Hachimura, and Taurean Prince still competing to be fifth starter. Right now, the Lakers plan to start Davis at center despite his desire to play more minutes at power forward. AD will likely start and close games at the five but play the four alongside Wood in the middle of games.

So let’s take a closer look at what the Lakers’ regular season rotation for guards, forwards, and centers is projected to look like based on what we’ve seen in the first two preseason games and heard from the pundits.

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GUARDS…

Outstanding play in the first two games by D’Angelo Russell and last night’s game by Austin Reaves have solidified the Lakers’ starting backcourt with Gabe Vincent as Russell’s backup and Max Christie as Reaves’ backup.

Those four should get most of the backcourt minutes with Jalen Hood-Schifino and Maxwell Lewis being the third point guard and shooting guard and two-way shooting guard D’Moi Hodge a candidate for last roster spot. Russell is averaging 14.5/1.0/5.5 in 16.0 mpg shooting 61.1/75.0/100.0% and Reaves 18.0/2.0/2.0 in 20.0 mpg shooting 71.4/66.7/100.0%. Vincent is averaging 6.5/1.0/3.0 in 19.7 mpg and Christie 9.0/2.5/0.5 in 20.6 mpg.

There are 96 total backcourt minutes per game to be shared by these four Lakers guards. A reasonable projection would have Reaves playing 30 minutes, Russell 30 minutes, Gabriel 18 minutes, and Christie 18 minutes.

Starting Point Guard: D’Angelo Russell
Backup Point Guard: Gabe Vincent

Starting Shooting Guard: Austin Reaves
Backup Shooting Guard: Max Christie

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FORWARDS…

By the start of the season, Rui Hachimura should be the Lakers’ starting small forward and LeBron James the starting power forward, with Jarred Vanderbilt backing up Rui and Taurean Prince backing up James.

In addition to these four, Anthony Davis will likely play half of his 32 mpg at power forward, reducing the minutes to be shared by the four forwards. Rui taking over the 5th starter role also gives the Lakers a two-big lineup.
Hachimura is averaging 15.5/6.0/1.0 in 20.5 mpg shooting 50.0/42.9/100.0% and James 10.0/3.0/5.0 in 16.9 mpg shooting 37.5/25.0/75.0%. Vanderbilt is averaging 6.0/7.0/1.0 in 20.9 mpg and Prince 7.5/1.0/0.5 in 20.6 mpg.

If Davis plays 16 minutes as a power forward, that would leave 80 minutes for others. A reasonable projection would have James playing 32 minutes, Hachimura 24 minutes, Vanderbilt 12 minutes, and Prince 12 minutes.

Starting Small Forward: Rui Hachimura
Backup Small Forward: Jarred Vanderbilt

Starting Power Forward: LeBron James
Backup Power Forward: Taurean Prince

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CENTERS…

There seems to be little doubt that Anthony Davis will begin the season starting and closing games and halves at center rather than at his preferred power forward position, with Christian Wood his likely backup center.

The Lakers’ objective is to have Anthony Davis divide his time between center and power forward similar to what they did to win it all in 2020.
If AD plays 32 mpg, assume he will spend 16 of those minutes at center.
So far this season, Davis is averaging 14.0/6.0/0.5 in 13.4 mpg and shooting a spectacular 58.8/50.0/83.3%. Wood is struggling but still averaging 7.5/5.0/0.5 in 20.6 mpg while Hayes is averaging 6.5/4.5/2.0 in 17.8 mpg.

If Davis plays 16 minutes at center, that would leave 32 minutes for Wood and Hayes. Assuming Wood improves after a shaky start, a reasonable projection might have Wood at 20 minutes and Hayes at 12 minutes.

Starting Center: Anthony Davis
Backup Center: Christian Wood
Backup Center: Jaxson Hayes

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DEPTH CHART…

Two-Way Players:
-Colin Castleton (Center)
-D’Moi Hodge (Shooting Guard)
-Alex Fudge (Power Forward)