Lakers Must Surround Superstars With Championship Quality Starters

The Lakers’ surprising and abysmal collapse after winning the inaugural In-Season Tournament has made it obvious L.A. needs to surround LeBron James and Anthony Davis with legitimate championship quality starters.

No disrespect to Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell, Can Reddish, Taurean Prince, Rui Hachimura, or Jarred Vanderbilt. While they’re good backups and rotation players, they’re just not championship quality NBA starters.
While there are moves the Lakers could make to tweak or even upgrade positions with slightly better players, the harsh reality is those moves won’t change the overall dynamic and direction of this critical Lakers’ season.

The Lakers’ problem is they have simply failed to surround LeBron and AD with championship quality starters and that’s why the team is struggling right now to find a starting lineup and rotation that can consistently win.
That’s why nothing that head coach Darvin Ham tries changes anything. He simply does not have legitimate championship quality starters to play other than LeBron James and Anthony Davis and possibly Austin Reaves.

Part of the reason for that problem is the Lakers’ decision to focus on underperforming, modestly paid players under 30-years old whom they believed their coaching staff could grow and develop into better players. While that allowed them to build a deep and diverse bench, they would have been smarter to add proven, higher-paid veterans to their starting lineup because those players are the key to unleashing their superstars.

While the Lakers were smart to build a deep and diverse roster rather than using all their cap space on just 3 superstars, their mistake was failing to invest enough resources to surround James and Davis with quality starters.
Look at what the Celtics did to surround Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Los Angeles doesn’t have three players to surround their superstars who can match Boston’s Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, or Kristaps Porzingis

While salary and talent aren’t directly tied, teams usually get what they pay for. Boston starts their 5 highest paid players who combined earn $153.5 million per year, including 4 players who earn over $30 million per year.
While LeBron James and Anthony Davis earn $88.2 million per year, the other three Lakers’ starters only earn $18.6 million per year, bringing their total starting salary to 106.8 million per year, far less than the Celtics.

The only way the Lakers can save this season and have a chance at beating the Celtics to win their 18th NBA title is to pull of a series of blockbuster trades deadline moves to add at least two championship caliber starters.

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POINT GUARD CANDIDATES

The Lakers’ top priority in building a new starting lineup is finding a new starting point guard since D’Angelo Russell will be traded, Austin Reaves is best off the bench, and LeBron James can’t play the position full time.

Finding an upgrade for D’Angelo Russell will be the Lakers’ greatest challenge as they approach the trade deadline. While Russell played well offensively, neither his offense or defense was championship caliber.
The challenge is exacerbated by the Lakers desperate need to improve the starting lineup’s poor 3-point shooting and offensive rating while also upgrading the quality of the starters’ point-of-attack perimeter defense.

Frankly, the Lakers have struggled since signing LeBron James 4 years ago to acquire an elite point guard who could effectively take over the position. Here are the Lakers’ current top three candidates for starting point guard:

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Dejounte Murray, whom the Hawks traded for and extended 2 years ago and are looking to trade because he’s not the right fit with Trae Young, should be the Lakers’ #1 candidate to be their future starting point guard.

• Dejounte Murray, 27, 6′ 5″, 180 lbs, $18.2M, 1-yr, Ext $25.5M, 4-yrs
  20.9 pts, 4.5 reb, 5.1 ast, 0.3 blk, 1.4 stl in 34.5 mpg

Marcus Smart, former DPOY and elite point-of-attack perimeter defender whom the Celtics traded to the Grizzlies to get Kristaps Porzingis, should be the Lakers’ #2 candidate as their two-way point guard of the future.

• Marcus Smart, 29, 6′ 3″, 220 lbs, $18.8M, 3-yrs
  13.4 pts, 2.4 reb, 4.3 ast, 0.3 blk, 2.0 stl in 30.3 mpg

Malcolm Brogdon, a proven starting point guard who plays both ends of the court and is a career 39.0% 3-point shooter and former ROY and 6MOY should be Lakers’ #3 candidate as their new starting point guard.

• Malcolm Brogdon, 31, 6′ 4″, 229 lbs, $22.5M, 2-yrs
  15.4 pts, 3.5 reb, 5.4 ast, 0.1 blk, 0.8 stl in 27.3 mpg

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The Lakers should trade for one of these three point guards. Murray adds offensive punch and defensive agility, Smart provides elite point-of-attack defense, and Brogdon brings solid 3-point shooting and perimeter defense.

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SHOOTING GUARD CANDIDATES

The Lakers’ 2nd priority in building a new starting lineup is finding a new starting shooting guard to jumpstart the offense with 3 to 4 additional made threes per game to eliminate their 10-point negative 3-point differential.

The Lakers’ current formula for winning games requires them to win the points-in-the-paint and free-throws-made battles by more than 10 points per game to offset their 10-point negative 3-point shooting differential.
Trading for an elite high volume, high percentage 3-point shooter who could give the team 3 or 4 more made threes per game and create better spacing should be the Lakers #2 priority before the trade deadline.

The only way for the Lakers to eliminate their negative 3-point shooting differential is to take and make more threes. Here are three candidates who could deliver 3 or 4 additional made threes per game for the Lakers:

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Bogdan Bogdanovic, who’s an elite high volume, high percentage 3-point shooters who’s currently shooting 37.3% on a career high 8.9 threes per game, should be the Lakers #1 candidate as starting shooting guard.

• Bogdan Bogdanovic, 31, 6′ 5″, 225 lbs, $18.7M, 4-yrs
  17.7 pts, 3.3 reb, 2.8 ast, 0.3 blk, 1.3 stl in 28.3 mpg

Buddy Hield, who’s been on the L.A.’s radar forever and always ranks among the league’s best high volume, high percentage 3-point shooters, should be the Lakers #2 candidate to be their starting shooting guard.

• Buddy Hield, 31, 6′ 4″, 220 lbs, $19.2M, 1-yr
  12.7 pts, 3.2 reb, 2.5 ast, 0.6 blk, 0.8 stl in 25.8 mpg

Zach LaVine, who’s the greatest trade risk due to injury history and mega contract but has the highest ceiling when it comes to talent and fit with James and Davis, should be Lakers’ #3 starting shooting guard candidate.

• Zach LaVine, 28, 6′ 5″, 200 lbs, $40.0M, 4-yrs
  20.7 pts, 4.9 reb, 3.4 ast, 0.2 blk, 0.9 stl in 35.0 mpg

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The Lakers should trade for one of these three shooting guards. Bogdan is generating 3+ made threes and is best defender, Buddy is sure bet to add 3 to 4 threes per game, and Zach has the greatest upside and contract risk.

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SECOND BIG CANDIDATES

The Lakers’ 3rd priority in building a new starting lineup is finding a second big to pair with Anthony Davis in a 2-bigs lineup and back him up when he rest. There are both offensive and defensive second big options.

Playing a second big doubles down on the Lakers’ winning blueprint of dominating points-in-the-paint and free-throws-made, valuable insurance if they can’t find a two guard to give them 3 or 4 more threes per game.
Having a second big who could stretch the floor with their shooting, create opportunities with their playmaking, and protect the rim with their shot blocking would transform the Lakers both offensively and defensively.

The Lakers need to find a second big to play with and without Anthony Davis to be a legitimate contender for their 18th NBA championship. Here are their best three options for a future second big to play with AD:

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Kelly Olynyk, who’s on an expiring contract and would be the perfect offensive stretch big to play next to AD, should be the Lakers #1 candidate to be their future second big to play with and without Anthony Davis.

• Kelly Olynyk, 32, 6′ 11″, 240 lbs, $17.2M , 2-yrs
  8.0 pts, 5.1 reb, 4.6 ast, 0.3 blk, 0.8 stl in 21.5 mpg

Daniel Gafford, who’s a fierce dunker and rebounder and dominant shot blocker and defender against superstar bigs like Nikola Jokic, should be the Lakers #2 candidate as future second big to play with and without AD.

• Daniel Gafford, 25, 6′ 10″, 234 lbs, $12.4M, 3-yrs
  10.5 pts, 7.6 reb, 1.6 ast, 2.1 blk, 1.8 stl in 25.6 mpg

Draymond Green, who’s completed his 12-game suspension and is ready to return to the Warriors’ lineup but could find himself out of their future plans, should be the Lakers’ #3 candidate as second big to pair with AD.

• Draymond Green, 33, 6′ 6″, 230 lbs, $22.3M, 4-yrs
  9.7 pts, 5.5 reb, 5.8 ast, 0.7 blk, 0.4 stl in 32.6 mpg

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The Lakers should trade for one of these second big candidates. Olynyk would be a dynamic second big to stretch the court, Gafford an elite rim protector and vertical threat, and Green an transcendent two-way star.

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TOP-3 TRADE CANDIDATES

The Lakers need to upgrade the three starters who will surround LeBron James and Anthony Davis. They need a new starting point guard, shooting guard, and second big to play with and complement their two superstars.

Whom do you like as the Lakers’ new starting point guard? Dejounte Murray, Marcus Smart, or Tyus Jones? What about the Lakers new starting shooting guard? Zach LaVine, Buddy Hield, or Bogdan Bogdanovic?
While replacing their backcourt with new point and shooting guards is the Lakers’ top priority, they also need a second big who can start next to Anthony Davis in a two-bigs starting lineup and cover whenever he rests.

Personally, I favor the Lakers trading with the Hawks for Dejounte Murray and Bogdan Bogdanovic and the Jazz for Kelly Olynyk. That would give the Lakers three new starters to play with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Murray, Bogdanovic, and Olynyk earn $54.1 million per year, meaning the Lakers would have to match those salaries, which means giving up Russell, Vincent, Prince, Hood-Schifino, and Hachimura plus major draft capital.

Murray and Bogdanovic immediately become the Lakers backcourt of the future. Dejounte is shooting 38.3% on 6.0 threes per game while Bogdan is shooting 37.5 on 8.9 threes per game. Together, that’s 14.9 threes per game.
Olynyk immediately becomes the dynamic second big who starts next to Davis and gives the Lakers a third high percentage 3-point shooter to create spacing for James and Davis as well as a solid rebounder and playmaker.

As the Lakers near the February 8, 2024 trade deadline, I’ll be looking to see ‘Lakers’ trade bombs’ from Shams or Woj for any of the 9 trade candidates listed in this article, but especially for Murray, Bogdanovic, and Olynyk.