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How Rob Pelinka Can Upgrade Lakers’ Starting Lineup to Create Dream Team

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Rob Pelinka needs a big offseason trade to transform the Lakers into a championship team by turning Russell Westbrook’s $47 million expiring contract and a pair of unprotected first round picks into three new starters.

The Lakers need size and athleticism across the board, better perimeter and interior defenders, and more elite shooters who can create their own shots. Specifically, they need three new starters to complement LeBron and AD. Malik Monk, Austin Reaves, Stanley Johnson, and Wenyen Gabriel are fine young Lakers players but none of them is close to being good enough at this point in their careers to be starters on a legitimate NBA championship team.

The Lakers’ problem is they have more holes to fill than trading chips to spend so they need to find a rebuilding team as trading partner who needs to dump rotation-quality players on long-term contracts to create cap space. Those are the teams for whom Russel Westbrook’s gigantic expiring contract and the Lakers’ 2027 and 2029 first round draft picks will have real value. Talen Horton-Tucker’s and Kendrick Nunn’s value is now only as salary filler.

The NBA teams possibly looking to move key rotation players with multiple-year contracts for expiring contracts to free up cap space incudes the Indiana Pacers, Charlotte Hornets, Houston Rockets, and New York Knicks. The NBA players on those four teams whom the Lakers could target include Pacers’ Turner, Hield, and Brogdon; Hornets’ Hayward, Rozier, and Oubre; Rockets Wood, Gordon, and Wall; and Knicks Randle, Walker, and Reddish.

Here’s what Pelinka needs to do position-by-position and player-by-player this summer to build a better starting lineup that can carry the Los Angeles Lakers to their league-leading 18th NBA championship next season.

1. Point Guard — Find Replacement for Russell Westbrook

The Lakers need a starting quality point guard as part of the return in any trade for Russell Westbrook and Malcolm Brogdon is a better fit than Terry Rozier, John Wall, and Kemba Walker, the other available point guards.

The 29-year old, 6′ 5,” 229 lb Brogdon averaged 19.1/5.1/5.9 in 33.5 mpg while shooting 44.8%/31.2%/85.6% compared to 33-year old, 6′ 3,” 200 lb Westbrook’s 18.5/7.4/7.1 in 34.3 mpg while shooting 34.3%/29.8%/66.7%. Brogdon is a major upgrade over Westbrook in every area. He’s a 37.6% career 3-point shooter with a 2.8 career assist/turnover ratio as playmaker vs Westbrook’s 30.0% career 3-point shooting and 2.0 career assist/turnover.

Besides being a better shooter and more efficient playmaker, Malcolm will be an even bigger upgrade over Russ on defense because he won’t blow rotations or take off plays and is 2″ and 29 lbs bigger and 4 years younger. Finally, Brogdon is locked up for three more seasons at $22.5 million per year which allows the Lakers to stabilize their starting point guard position with a proven player who can shoot, pass, and switch everything on defense.

There’s a potential Westbrook trade with the Pacers where the Lakers get Malcolm Brogdon and Buddy Hield. Because the Lakers need a top quality replacement for Westbrook, the Indiana trade should be a top priority.

2. Shooting Guard — Find Volume Shooter Defenses Respect

Landing Buddy Hield as part of the return from a Russell Westbrook trade would be a rare opportunity to get a mulligan and redo the disastrous trade that, with injuries, derailed the Lakers’ championship hopes this season.

The Lakers were on the verge of trading Kyle Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell to the Sacramento Kings for Buddy Hield last summer before they changed their minds at the last minute and opted to trade for Russell Westbrook. Suddenly, with the Pacers interested in a salary dump of Brogdon and Hield in return for Westbrook’s $47 million expiring contract, the Lakers have an opportunity to put together a dramatically bigger and better backcourt.

Buddy Hield is the high volume, high percentage 3-point shooter the Lakers need to stretch defenses to prevent teams from packing the paint and create spacing for LeBron James and Anthony Davis to attack the basket. This season, Buddy Hield averaged 15.6/4.4/2.8 on 35.6 mpg while shooting 44.7%/36.2%/88.6%. Buddy’s a career 39.8% 3-point shooter who has taken more than 8.5 threes per game over the last four NBA seasons.

The Lakers top trading partner priority this summer should be the Indiana Pacers because they have a legitimate starting quality point guard and shooting guard whom they’re willing to trade for Russ’ expiring contract.

3. Small Forward — Find Elite Three-Level Wing Defender

The Lakers’ greatest need this past season was for a legitimate 3&D small forward with the size and power to defend the bigger wing scorers the team faces like Kawhi Leonard, Pau George, Jason Tatum, and Kevin Durant.

We saw how frustrating it was for the Lakers this season trying to have 6′ 4″ Talen Horton-Tucker or 6′ 6″ Stanley Johnson trying to stop bigger wins who take smaller defenders into the paint for easy-to-make midrange jumpers. Bigger 3&D wing defenders are now the most desired addition on every NBA team’s roster. They’re a rare commodity in today’s NBA which is why the Lakers need to move Anthony Davis to small forward beginning this year.

While the injury prone Davis has often complained about having to endure the banging and physicality of playing the five, his dream as an NBA player is to actually to play small forward. Time has come to let AD live his dream. Starting Davis at the three would reduce the wear-and-tear Anthony would have to deal with playing the five full-time and give the Lakers the ultimate wing defender, a 6′ 11,” 250 lb athletic marvel who defend all three levels.

Moving Anthony Davis to starting small forward is part of a rebuilding the front court of the Lakers so they can play a modern version of the small-ball-on-steroids style that dominated the championship in the bubble.

4. Power Forward — Find Bully Ball Stretch Four

The other part of rebuilding the Lakers front court for next season to be more like the small-ball-on-steroids lineups that won the championship is playing aging superstar LeBron James as the starting bully ball stretch four.

The switch of AD to the three and LeBron to the four is not only designed to optimize Davis’ and James’ skillsets but also give the Lakers a dominant size advantage over opponents at every position. Positional size is a to priority. Building a roster with a starting lineup that consists of a 6′ 5″ point guard, a 6′ 4″ shooting guard, a 6′ 10″ small forward, a 6′ 9″ power forward, and a 6′ 11″ center will give the Lakers the flexibility to go super big or super small.

Playing LeBron at the four instead of the three also keeps James at 37-years old from wearing himself out chasing bigger wing scorers around screens and allows him to take advantage of his emerging 3-point shooting prowess. The 6′ 11″ Davis with his unicorn size and length could be more valuable to the Lakers as a 3&D small forward who can shutdown bigger wing scorers than as a small ball center who protects the rim and stretches the floor.

Moving LeBron to the four is playing him where his game can best take advantage of the skillset he’s developed as a 19-year, 37-year old veteran. Today’s LeBron James has become the quintessential bully ball stretch four.

5. Center — Find Rim-Protecting Modern Center

The key to the Lakers supersizing their lineups with 6′ 10,” 250 lb Anthony Davis at the three and 6′ 9,” 250 lb LeBron James at the four is the ability to find a starting center who can protect the rim and stretch the floor.

The player the Lakers need is the Pacers’ Myles Turner, a 26-year old 6′ 11,” 250 lb center who led the league with 2.8 and 3.4 blocked shots per game last two seasons and a 34.9% career 3-point shooting on 4.4 shots per game. The Lakers desperately miss the rim protection, dunks, and rebounds they got during the championship run from traditional low post centers Dwight Howard and JaVale McGee in addition to small ball center Anthony Davis.

Myles Turner not only gives the Lakers better shot blocking than they had during their 2020 championship run but also the benefit of being a stretch five center who can stretch the floor rather than being stuck in the paint. Turner will allow the team to play a modern version of a monster three bigs lineup with three 250 lb front court players or go small with the Lakers’ unique small-ball-on-steroids attack with Anthony Davis at the five.

The Lakers need to expand Hield and Brogdon for Westbrook trade to Hield, Brogdon, and Turner for Westbrook, Horton-Tucker, and the Lakers unprotected post LeBron James 2027 and 2029 first round draft picks.

Four Questions To Which The Lakers Need Answers To Decide What To Do

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The Los Angeles Lakers will face major challenges this summer as they try to fix the roster and coaching problems that derailed this season and left the Lakers a shocking and disappointing 11th out of 15 NBA teams in the West.

More troubling than their record is the Lakers lack of valuable trading chips heading into a critical summer where they desperately need to rebuild their roster back to championship caliber with LeBron James’ retirement looming. Besides finding and hiring a new head coach and staff, the Lakers must find a trading partner willing to salary dump three rotation players for Russell Westbrook’s expiring contract and two post-LeBron first round draft picks. 

Here are the four questions to which the Lakers will need answers to before they can decide exactly what to do to fix their roster in terms of specific players and find a new head coach who fits the needs of the new roster.


1. Can Lakers Still Win Championship with LeBron James and AD?

If yes, the Lakers should move forward to convince LeBron James to sign a two-year extension with a player option for second year, lining up his and AD’s contracts and guaranteeing the Lakers two more years of both superstars.

Note that LeBron not signing an extension sends the Lakers on a different set of options that include moving forward but returning to the subject before the trade deadline or possibly trading LeBron and even AD if the Klutch alliance is broken.

If no, the Lakers should consider trading LeBron James and/or Anthony Davis this summer. The two superstars could generate enough young talent and draft picks for the Lakers to jumpstart building their next championship team.

2. Does LeBron Signing Extension Change What Lakers Do This Summer?

If yes, the Lakers will then have the security of LeBron James and Anthony Davis under contract for two more years, enabling them to make a major investment in more salaries and luxury taxes to upgrade the roster to championship level,

If no, the Lakers can either decide to gamble the moves you make will be enough to convince LeBron to sign the extension or decide to cut your losses and trade LeBron James and/or Anthony Davis this summer or at the trade deadline.

Just a note about timing. Since LeBron is not eligible to sign an extension until August 4th, the Lakers may require him to verbally agree to sign the extension before making any long-term moves dependent upon him being a Laker.

3. Is There a Chance Lakers Keep Russell Westbrook Next Season?

If yes, it would be because they would not give up a first round draft pick to move him or decided to take advantage of the cap space when Russ’ $47 million comes off the books the summer after next when LeBron and AD will be the only Lakers. 

If no, the Lakers should trade Russ and their two first round picks for three quality rotation players, for example the Pacers’ Myles Turner, Malcolm Brogdon, and T.J. McConnell. They should not spend a first round pick to move Russ.

If the Lakers make their two first round picks unprotected, they might be able to get more for Russ and his expiring contract than Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrez Harrell, and #22 draft pick who was Isaiah Jackson.

If the Lakers couldn’t find an acceptable trade partner to take Russ without giving up a pick and keeping him for his expiring contract was not worth it, the Lakers last option would be to waive-and-stretch Westbrook’s $47 million contract.

4. Do the Lakers Need to Hire a New Head Coach Right Away?

If yes, it would be because the Lakers did not want an ongoing coaching search get in the way of signing free agents and negotiating trades and because there was a candidate like Quin Snyder or Rajon Rondo whom they wanted to get locked up.

Ideally, the Lakers can sign their choice as their next head coach as soon as the season ends and before free agency and the offseason trade period open up. Could be important for free agents to know who is going to coach them on the Lakers.

If no, it would be because the Laker did not have a candidate they were ready to sign or because they wanted to wait to see what the final roster looked like before deciding on who would be the best coach for the roster the Lakers ended up with.

Could Magic Johnson Be the Visionary Lakers Need to Fix Their Front office?

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There’s a case to be made the smartest thing Jeanie Buss could do right now is bring back Magic Johnson as President of Basketball Operations and the bold visionary the Lakers need to navigate the risks of the next few years.

While that may seem like a totally crazy idea considering how his last stint running the Lakers front office unceremoniously ended, Magic Johnson could be the visionary leader the team desperately needs going forward. Pelinka would remain as VP of Basketball Operations and handle the daily general manager and salary cap duties and responsibilities while Johnson would oversee the Lakers’ front office roster building and decision making.

The championship attribute the Lakers’ organization is missing right now is a visionary leader with a clear idea of the kind of team the Lakers should build around LeBron and AD and strong interpersonal skills to execute his vision. The greatest concern for Lakers fans right now is the franchise will face several major franchise defining decisions right at a time when ownership, the front office, and coaching staff appear to be on different pages.

That’s where Magic Johnson comes in. If there’s anybody in the Lakers family of former coaches and players who is best qualified to provide the vision, it’s Magic Johnson, who recruited LeBron James to kick start the Lakers revival. Think about the big moves the Lakers made during the last three years. Signing LeBron James and trading for Anthony Davis were both moves that were part of Magic Johnson’s vision for the Lakers, not Rob Pelinka’s.

In a way, the Lakers have not had a visionary since Dr. Buss died. Neither Jim Buss or his sister Jeanie were visionaries and the only thing Rob Pelinka accomplished in his three years was finishing the AD trade Magic started. While Rob deserves credit for the bubble championship, he’s spent the last two years essentially discarding a proven championship formula for failed attempts to upgrade the Lakers that wasted two years of LeBron’s career.

Bringing back Magic is the only move Jeanie is capable of making at this point. She’s not going to fire Rob, although he very well could resign due to the Lakers bringing back Magic Johnson to be his direct boss once again. Frankly, Rob resigning wouldn’t be the end of the world although the Lakers would need to replace him with a hands-on general manager who could handle the day-to-day duties and salary cap responsibilities of the job.

Unlike last time, the Lakers and Magic would have an understanding that his position as President of Basketball Operations is to be the franchise’s visionary, their idea man, their guide for strategizing and building a team. Magic will be paid for his ideas and leadership, not for the hours or days he spends working at Lakers’ facilities or on Lakers’ projects. His value is the vision he can provide the franchise as it transitions from LeBron James.

Magic Johnson may not be the smartest one to represent the team on social media or handle the daily general manager workload or critical front office salary cap calculations but he’s exactly what the Lakers’ front office needs.

How Pelinka Can Redeem Himself and Get Lakers’ Organization Back in Sync

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It’s only taken a year and a half for the Los Angeles Lakers to go from champs to chumps, from winning a championship in the bubble to losing in the first round last year and possibly missing playoffs completely this year.

The Lakers lost their way by forgetting who they were and throwing away what won their championship. Rob cracked and traded for Russ, ownership suddenly got cheap, and Vogel got a roster that exposed his flaws. Everyone in the Lakers’ organization shares the blame for where the Lakers are right now, will have to be held accountable, and will need to participate in any solution to get the organization in sync and everybody on the same page.

The front office executive who will get the opportunity to fix the Lakers’ roster problem this summer will be the same Rob Pelinka who was responsible for the problems in the first place by agreeing to trade for Russ. You can blame LeBron and AD but it’s Rob who is paid big bucks to make those tough decisions like should we trade for Russell Westbrook, should we re-sign Alex Caruso, should we promise Andre Drummond a starting role?

Bottom line, here are the six steps Rob must take as head of basketball operations to get everybody in the Lakers’ organization in sync and on the same page and fix the roster problems caused by the Westbrook trade.

1. Accept Responsibility for the Lakers’ Current Mess

The first thing Rob needs to do is accept responsibility for the Westbrook trade. That LeBron and AD wanted Russ and pushed for the trade doesn’t matter. The final decision was Rob’s and it was clearly a poor decision.

Accepting responsibility for the Westbrook trade would clear the decks for everybody to stop assessing blame and instead allow ownership, front office, and coaching to work together to create game plan for this summer. Most importantly, it would show that Rob is the man in charge and will be the one making the final decision when it comes to terminating the Westbrook experiment and upgrading the roster to championship level.

The Lakers are at a major crossroads. They still have two superstars and could rebuild and come back as a legitimate contender next season…or they could continue making wrong moves and fumble LeBron James transition. Rob Pelinka needs to create a overall vision for how to get the best out of LeBron James and Anthony Davis and next year’s Lakers just like Jerry Buss did for the Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Showtime Lakers.

Rob has an opportunity to redeem himself as the Lakers general manager and fix the problems caused by the Westbrook trade. The first step is him accepting responsibility for the Lakers’ current roster mess.

2. Convince Jeanie Buss to Open Lakers’ Purse Strings

Once Rob has accepted responsibility for the Lakers’ current mess, he needs to sit down with Jeanie and convince her paying luxury taxes has become just the basic price of admission to compete for NBA championships.

With a market value of $5.5 billion, the Lakers will likely end up paying just $3 million in luxury taxes, 11th lowest amount among tax payers and considerably less than the $60 million due from top taxpayer Warriors. Jeanie’s unwillingness to pay luxury taxes ended up costing the Lakers one of their best defensive players when they refused to match an offer Alex Caruso received from the Chicago Bulls because of potential luxury taxes.

What Rob Pelinka needs to do is convince Jeanie and her brothers and sister that winning championships is what’s made the franchise worth $5.5 billion today and that the Lakers need to spend money to make money. The Lakers need to be willing to pay the same level of luxury taxes as their competitors: the Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, and Los Angeles Clippers. You can’t lose quality players like Caruso due to tax concerns.

The ability to compete financially is a basic requirement if the Lakers are to be able to compete on the hardwood. Pelinka needs to convince Jeanie Buss that paying luxury taxes is just an investment on future championships.

3. Recruit Quin Snyder as the Lakers Next Head Coach

The biggest challenge Rob will have this summer will be replace Frank Vogel as head coach. Before he can do that, he needs to decide what kind of coach the Lakers need to best optimize LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

The head coach candidate Rob Pelinka should pursue this summer is Quin Snyder, current head coach of the Jazz, who have new ownership and word is the new ownership may want a new head coach after eight years. Snyder is a former Lakers assistant coach who possesses the same defensive DNA as Frank Vogel but has fully embraced the 3-point revolution that’s taken over the NBA, which is what the Lakers need to complement LeBron and AD

Defensively, Snyder favors a two-bigs defense anchored by an elite shot blocker like Gobert, which is style similar to Frank Vogel’s defense. Quin’s Jazz defense was 3rd in the league last season but just 13th this season. Offensively, Quin Snyder has the Jazz taking and making the second most 3-point shots in the league this season, after leading the league in both last season. Quin is Mike D’Antoni on offense and Frank Vogel on defense.

Pelinka and the Lakers should go all-in to sign Quin Snyder as their next head coach. He has the championship experience both as a player and coach and the X’s and O’s chops superstars James and Davis will respect.

4. Rebuild the Partnership with Rich Paul and Klutch Sports

Once Pelinka has signed Snyder to replace Vogel as the Lakers next head coach, he needs to turn his attention to repairing and rebuilding his alliance with Klutch Sports and getting LeBron James to sign a two-year extension.

While James won’t be eligible to sign an extension until August 4th, Pelinka needs his verbal approval once the season ends so he can move forward to surround LeBron and AD with a championship roster when summer starts. Were James unwilling to sign an extension, the Lakers might then be forced to consider trading him in order not to lose him to free agency this summer without getting anything in return. James signing an extension is critical.

The extension James will likely approve would be for two years with player options for the second year, which would then line up LeBron and AD so their last guaranteed seasons would be 23–24 with player options for 24–25. That would then set the Lakers up with maximum cap space and no players under contract for the 2024–25 season, giving them the flexibility to re-sign superstars James and Davis or look for a superstar to replace LeBron James.

Strengthening the Klutch Sports alliance should be apriority for Pelinka. It not only solidifies the Lakers’ relationship with LeBron and AD but also opens the door for the Lakers to acquire another Klutch Sports superstar.

5. Trade Russell Westbrook to Rockets for John Wall

Once Rob has accepted responsibility for the Lakers’ mess, convinced Jeanie to loosen the purse strings, hired Quin Snyder as the next head coach, and rebuilt the alliance with Klutch Sports, he’s now ready to wheel and deal.

Finding a new home for Russell Westbrook will be Rob Pelinka’s first roster priority and undoubtedly the greatest challenge he will face this summer. The Lakers refused to give up a first round pick to move Russ at deadline. While the Lakers will be hoping to find a trading partner willing to take on Russ’ $47 million expiring contract, their best option could very well be to trade Westbrook and a first round draft pick to the Rockets for John Wall.

The Lakers are not interested in waiving and stretching Russell Westbrook. While Rob will try to find a team willing to trade the valuable players with multiple year contracts in return for Russ, the Lakers may still strike out. There’s no question that replacing Westbrook with Wall will be ‘addition by subtraction’ since Wall can at least be counted on to play under control and not create the chaotic rollercoaster ride Russ inevitably turns games into.

The first roster move Rob has to make this summer is trading Westbrook. Rob should be willing to give up one of the Lakers’ two first round picks to get a team to take Russell Westbrook’s $47 million expiring contract.

6. Trade THT, Nunn, and Pick for Stretch Five Center

The Lakers are at a critical crossroads where the decisions they make this summer will not only impact next season but could also the transition of the team once LeBron James retires and the success of post-LeBron future.

The last three years, the Lakers alternated between two-big lineups with traditional centers like JaVale McGee or Dwight Howard and small-ball-on-steroids lineups with Anthony Davis or LeBron James as stretch fives. Considering how the Lakers’ small lineups have been getting killed in the paint and on the boards and the persistent injuries to James and Davis, the Lakers should seriously consider returning to the two-bigs formula.

Rather than bringing in another traditional center, the Lakers should look to for a center with the size to protect the rim, the bulk to handle power centers like Embiid and Jokic, and the shooting stroke to stretch defenses. Adding a modern center like Christian Wood or Myles Turner would enable the Lakers to be able to play big or small. It would also give them the ability to have an elite shot blocker on the court for all 48 minutes of the game.

Considering injuries that have derailed this and last season’s teams, the Lakers should rethink their front court and look to trade for a modern stretch five center who can both protect the rim and stretch defenses.

How Good Could Lakers Be If LeBron, AD, & Russ Really Figure Things Out?

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While it’s only three games, there are signs the ageless LeBron James, the recently redeemed Russell Westbrook, and the young Los Angeles Lakers’ resurgent roster may have finally figured out how to win playing together.

The Lakers may have found a rhythm and strategy on offense and defense that’s not only working now but could be even better once Davis and Nunn return and replace Howard and Bradley in the starting lineup and rotation. Basically, the Lakers have surrounded superstars LeBron James and Russell Westbrook with bigger young wings like Stanley Johnson and Wenyen Gabriel and Swiss Army knife guards Austin Reaves and Malik Monk.

The combination of more size, youth, and energy has led to the Lakers playing the best basketball of the season over the last three games. Whether there is still time for the Lakers to turn around their season is the question. There are still doubts Anthony Davis and Kendrick Nunn will be able to recover from their respective injuries in time to become available for the remainder of the regular season, the play-in tournament, or the playoffs.

While it may be a case of too little too late, there are definitely signs LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, and the Los Angeles Lakers have finally started to figure out how to actually win playing together. Let’s look at those signs.

The Never-Ending Greatness of LeBron James

There’s a reason why no NBA team wants to meet the Lakers in the playoffs and that fear starts with the never-ending greatness of LeBron James, who would be having his fifth MVP season if the Lakers had a winning record.

Now playing in his 19th NBA season, the 37-year old James is finally showing occasional hits from Father Time as his explosiveness sometimes wans and injuries appear to be happening more often and taking longer to heal. Averaging a league best 30.0 points with 8.2 rebounds and 6.3 assists in 37.1 minutes per game while shooting 52.3%/35.4%/75.8%, LeBron is playing like the best player on the planet with two 50-point games last week.

While it’s been a frustrating and injury plagued season, James has remained motivated due to achieving career benchmarks in playmaking and scoring and remains completely confident the Lakers can pull off a playoff run. Assuming LeBron’s knee injury doesn’t get worse, the Los Angeles Lakers know to a man they’re never out of the championship conversation as long as LeBron James and Anthony Davis remain healthy, rested, and engaged.

As long as the Los Angeles Lakers have a healthy LeBron James, they will always have a puncher’s chance to win any series. If the Lakers can load manage LeBron so he’s healthy and rested, they can still win another ring.

The Miraculous Redemption of Russell Westbrook

After a disappointing year where the Lakers and Westbrook agreed to part ways at the end of the season, Russ pulled off a miraculous steal and game-tying three that led to a Lakers’ overtime upset of the Toronto Raptors.

As unlikely as it might be, Westbrook ‘plucking’ that game out of the loss column and ‘putting’ it into the win column was the kind of miracle that could turn a team’s entire season around. It was redemption for Westbrook. Russ has struggled playing with LeBron and AD as opponents mercilessly pack the paint to prevent Lakers’ superstars from attacking the rim. The lack of spacing has been a problem up until the Lakers’ last three games.

Averaging 21.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 9.7 assists in 37.7 minutes per game while shooting 53.2%/50.0%/66.7% the last three games, Russ finally figured out how to post and take advantage of defenders who sag off him. Russ posting up is the perfect counter fore paint packing by other teams and usually leads to Russ scoring or forcing the opponent to double, which opens up space for shooters to spot up and lanes for cutters to cut.

While the Lakers will still likely move on from Russ, his redemption and the new offensive strategy of posting him up to force teams to double and open up shots for cutters and shooters has given new life to Russ’ game.

The Unlimited Potential of Anthony Davis

Less than a year and a half after helping LeBron win their 17th NBA championship, Anthony Davis has become the forgotten Laker superstar, nicknamed “Street Clothes” because of his propensity to get injured.

Integrating Anthony Davis should go a long way towards solving the Lakers size problems as well as defensive woes. Having their elite shot blocker who can guard all five positions back should quickly cure the Lakers’ defense. That’s why the progress the James and Westbrook have made is the silver lining in Anthony Davis getting injured. Not only did it give James and Westbrook time to jell but also Davis time to rest and get healthy,

Despite the frustration of this year’s injuries, the way Anthony Davis was playing before suffering the knee injury is incredibly encouraging for the Lakers as he was hitting shots from everywhere and playing great defense. The key for Davis when the Lakers won their championship in the bubble was the months off he head to rest and get healthy before the playoffs. Don’t look now but the Lakers may once again have a healthy, rested AD.

Anthony Davis had just 8 games to get ready for the playoffs in the bubble. If LeBron and Russ can figure out how to win without AD, then adding Davis for the playoffs will make the Lakers the team nobody wants to play.

The Surprise Upside of the Young Lakers

The wild card as the Lakers finish this agonizing regular season is how the older proven veteran players who were expected to dominate the rotations lost their place to better, more energetic and versatile younger players.

Offensively, the Lakers have doubled down on small ball, gambling the elite playmaking of superstars LeBron James and Russell Westbrook surrounded by talented young players who constantly move their bodies and the ball. The result is an offensive chemistry and cohesiveness we have not seen before with this team that’s posted the second best offensive rating and second highest assists in the league in winning two of the last three games.

What the Lakers have discovered is a smart way to use ball and player movement to create scoring opportunities when opposing teams are able to successfully pack the paint against James, Davis, and Westbrook. Surrounding LeBron and Russ with young energetic players who can attack the rim on cuts or splash wide open threes when left alone has been a lethal counter to teams packing the paint to force Lakers to shoot jumpers.

The energy, effort, movement, and chemistry from young Lakers like Austin Reaves, Malik Monk, Stanley Johnson, and Wenyen Gabriel has given the team’s superstars the perfect cast of savvy, talented, energetic role players.

The Lakers Amazing 18th NBA Championship?

How good could the Los Angeles Lakers be if LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook really figure out how to win playing together? Good enough to win their second NBA championship in the last four years.

Still missing superstar Davis and top summer recruit Nunn, the Los Angeles Lakers, led by the the ageless LeBron James and the rejuvenated Russell Westbrook, have finally started to figure out how to win games together. Russ is playing like a redeemed man who just woke up from a nightmare where his shot, handle, and brand had been badly damaged and sees an opportunity to launch a total redemption and revenge tour for the Lakers.

The resulting mix of elite veteran playmaking and energetic young talent and the resulting chemistry and cohesion has the Lakers finally looking like the team many thought they could be when the Westbrook trade happened. The players are starting to play on a string at both ends of the court, cobbling together 30-assist games, winning the rebounding and points in the paint battles, and playing their championship small-ball-on-steroids.

The Lakers will have to win two games in the Play-In to win the right to face the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the playoffs but there’s no question the Lakers will be the team nobody wants to meet in the NBA playoffs.