**LA LAKERS THREAD** Sitting on 17! 2023-2024 offseason begins

cant lose with him if you trade him

Lakers: Do You Believe In Magic? - The 3 Point Conversion


but eye dont think they trade him

like ive said before
patbev, nunn , and 2nds
in rob we trust
 
So many games we could have had and we just continue to make stupid mistakes.

I'm not trading any FRP to be a 1st or 2nd round exit team unless they actually plan to keep the player long term to finally try to build some continuity.

Probably gonna have an entire new roster next year as well.

I'm over this man.
 
If we don't go at least 4-3 to close out January, season over.

Sixers x2
Celtics
Pacers
Hornets
Mavs
Kings

All within our own control
 
**** cooked
Need shooters and they went to work out boogie cousins :lol

Cam reddish available for a second rder tho :lol
 
Jeanie Buss is a Loser. I mean look at the quality of man she traded for. She got rid of the Zenmaster and traded Phil for Jay freaking Mohr.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Damn Loser. Thankfully I haven't gone to any Lakers games the last two years cause I'd probably get banned for life from Staples if I got within 5 feet shouting distance of Jeanie
 
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Already marking the Grizzlies game as a L. The Blazers, Clippers, Spurs three game stretch could make or break the season, again. :lol:
 


Lakers midseason report card: Grades for LeBron James, Anthony Davis and others

Following a 140-132 win over the Houston Rockets on Monday, the Los Angeles Lakers are 20-24 through 44 games — a 37-win pace over an 82-game season.

Now that we’re just past the midway point of the season, it’s time to review each player’s 2022-23 campaign to date in the latest State of the Lakers. (Previous versions from this season are here, here and here.)

Note: Letters are tailored to each player and are relative to expectations, so two players having the same grade doesn’t mean they’re equally good or have performed similarly. Factors used to determine grades include statistics (per-game, per-possession and more advanced measures), lineup data, film review, consideration of role, skill set, age, performance relative to contract and in comparison this season with recent seasons. Injuries do not affect the grade.

LeBron James: A-
Notable numbers: 29.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 29.3 3-point percentage, 58.7 true shooting percentage

We’re running out of superlatives to describe James’ greatness as he breaks milestone after milestone into his late 30s. Players aren’t supposed to be this great this late into their careers. Like Tom Brady in the NFL, James is rewriting the possibilities for aging NBA legends.

James has morphed into more of a scorer over the past two seasons (though he’s still 13th in the NBA in assists per game), carrying subpar offensive groups with his multifaceted offensive attack as a ballhandler, screener, roller and post-up threat. He’s taken on more offensive responsibility since Anthony Davis’ injury, averaging 34.6 points per game on 55.5 percent shooting since Dec. 18. James is doing that while also almost exclusively playing power forward and center, positions that require withstanding a greater physical toll defensively.

James doesn’t earn an A because of his slowish start and his struggles at the 3-point line, where he’s shooting 29.3 percent. Otherwise, it’s difficult to poke holes in his 2022-23 performance. He’s been great and will soon reach another crowning achievement when he passes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the league’s all-time leading scorer. James is on pace to achieve the milestone by early February, which also so happens to be when the other most interesting subplot of the Lakers’ season will be determined: whether to include a first-round pick (or two) to make a trade to upgrade the roster and appease James before the Feb. 9 trade deadline.

Anthony Davis: A
Notable numbers: 27.4 points, 12.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.3 steals, 2.1 blocks, 66.2 true shooting percentage

Davis’ goal entering the season was to play all 82 games. That dream quickly ended with Davis missing his first contest by the Lakers’ fifth game. But Davis’ approach to the season showed he would made it a point to play through pain and discomfort more often than in the past.

The Lakers had initially planned on going back to their 2019-20 formula of starting a center alongside Davis, with Thomas Bryant or Damian Jones as the leading candidates. But with both players struggling early in training camp and Bryant suffering a thumb injury in the preseason, the Lakers were forced to start Davis at center to begin the season. He’s played center exclusively this season, sharing a total of 13 minutes all season with Bryant and less than one minute with Jones.

The result was Davis playing at a career-best level, rivaled only by short stretches in New Orleans and his three-month stint in Orlando for the 2020 Bubble. Davis re-established himself as a clear-cut top-10 NBA player for the first time since the end of the 2020-21 season, posting career highs in true shooting percentage (66.2), 2-point percentage (61.8 percent) and PER (31.9), while becoming a dominant rebounder again. His jump shot returned, at least inside the arc. He’d be in the conversation for NBA Defensive Player of the Year if he had played more games.

But as has been the case the past three seasons, Davis suffered a serious injury that caused him to miss a significant portion of the season. His right foot got caught on Nikola Jokić‘s calf on Dec. 16, leading to a bone spur fracture of his navicular bone and a further stress reaction. Davis has missed the past month and is progressing toward an early February return, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

Russell Westbrook: C+
Notable numbers: 15.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 1.0 steals, 29.1 3-point percentage, 50.1 true shooting percentage

It’s interesting how the perception of Westbrook’s play swings wildly between two extremes. His numbers are nearly identical to last season’s on a per-minute and per-possession basis (aside from his assists, which have remarkably increased from 9.8 to 12.8 per 100 possessions). He’s shooting worse on 2-pointers and 3-pointers. He’s posting his lowest true shooting percentage since his second season. Yet the national view is that Westbrook is playing much better this season after fitting in so poorly last year and being the subject of so many summer trade rumors.

Staggering the minutes of Westbrook and James more than last season has allowed Westbrook to have more opportunity with the ball in his hands as the team’s leading ballhandler. That’s his comfort zone, and it’s paid off with Westbrook creating for teammates in the pick-and-roll and playing with greater joy. He’s led effective bench units that have often saved the starters’ subpar starts. In spurts, the Oklahoma City version of Westbrook is still there.

But Westbrook’s shooting and decision-making remain significant issues that harm the Lakers, particularly in crunchtime. Los Angeles has dropped several close games this season because opponents have matched up their center on Westbrook in crunchtime to take advantage of his perimeter shooting woes. That tactic gums up the rest of the Lakers’ offense and clogs driving lanes (with Westbrook occasionally embracing the challenge head-on). Coach Darvin Ham has occasionally benched Westbrook in fourth-quarter stretches, which former head coach Frank Vogel rarely did. But it’s often difficult to sit Westbrook late in games given the recent shorthanded state of the roster and how well Westbrook often plays before the midpoint of the fourth.

Westbrook has bought into Ham’s vision of him coming off the bench (even if he was reluctant at first), and has remained a professional despite not always playing 30-plus minutes or closing every game. Both sides have accepted that the partnership can still be effective, even if it’s far from perfect.

Westbrook is the most difficult Laker to grade. The NBA Sixth Man of the Year candidate is just so polarizing. As things stand, the Lakers are unlikely to move him by the Feb. 9 trade deadline, though that could change if the league’s trade market dramatically changes over the next three weeks.

Austin Reaves: A-
Notable numbers: 10.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 36.0 3-point percentage, 64.5 true shooting percentage

Reaves picked up where he left off last year, emerging as the Lakers’ third-best player for much of the season before a recent hamstring injury. He’s cemented himself as one of the roster’s few reliable two-way options, capable of shapeshifting his role within lineups depending on what’s needed. He’s beginning to actualize his shooting potential; earlier in the season, he and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry were the only two players to flirt with 50-40-90 shooting numbers.

The biggest knock on Reaves is he’s too selfless at times, forcing passes to teammates instead of taking the shot himself. But even that quality mixes well with many of the other shoot-first players on this team.

Reaves’ basketball IQ differentiates him from the average role player. He’s always thinking one or two steps ahead, balancing his cerebral play with the mettle to mix it up for loose balls, defend larger players and battle in the paint. He’s tied for fourth in the league in charges drawn per game.

The Lakers have preferred to bring Reaves off the bench given his chemistry with Westbrook, but he’s become a closing lock next to James and Davis. There’s a reasonable argument to be made that he should be starting regardless of his effect on the bench unit, as Reaves is a plus-minus darling who finds a way to make every lineup better.

Lonnie Walker IV: B
Notable numbers: 14.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 38.4 3-point percentage, 57.8 true shooting percentage

Considering Walker IV’s inconsistency in San Antonio and the team’s glaring need for a bigger 3-and-D wing, the Lakers’ decision to use their entire taxpayer midlevel exception on him was surprising to many across the league. But Walker IV has lived up to his contract as the Lakers’ fourth scorer and best 3-point shooter this season.

Comparing Walker IV’s situation to Malik Monk’s last year is trite, but there are some obvious parallels. Both are high-scoring combo guards who were picked in the first round of the draft before their original teams gave up on them ahead of free agency. Like Monk, Walker IV is thriving with a bigger role in Los Angeles and is poised to parlay his success into a bigger payday next summer, whether from the Lakers or another team.

Walker IV has started the third-most games on the current roster, playing everything from point guard to power forward despite his 6-foot-4 frame. He’s been a revelation in transition, where his burst and athleticism make him a terror to defend. In half-court situations, he’s become a reliable shooter (39.3 percent on catch-and-shoot 3s) who also excels in pick-and-rolls and attacking closeouts.

Before his recent injury, Walker IV had stopped doing much outside of scoring. His defense has slipped, as Ham has alluded to multiple times, and he doesn’t offer the same rebounding or playmaking as other options like Reaves, Troy Brown Jr. and Max Christie. The team has been badly outscored when Walker IV is on the floor, which isn’t the case for most of the rotation regulars.

Still, his 3-point shooting and explosive transition play are important attributes that the Lakers have missed lately. He’s the type of wild card most teams need.

Dennis Schröder: B
Notable numbers: 12.2 points, 3.7 assists, 36.2 3-point percentage, 56.5 true shooting percentage

Schröder was the last addition to the roster, raising speculation that the Lakers were preparing to trade Westbrook because of a backcourt logjam. Instead, the Lakers have kept to the vision they promoted back then, holding an open competition at the beginning of the season and deploying a ton of three-guard lineups.

The Lakers are familiar with Schröder, who played for them in 2020-21, and may (or may not, according to him) have turned down a large contract extension. After a preseason thumb injury sidelined him for a few weeks, Schröder quickly earned a starting spot. He’s impressed, returning to his 2020-21 form as a reliable scorer and pesky on-ball defender.

Schröder offers a level of speed and guile the Lakers desperately need offensively. He’s demonstrated better passing instincts in the pick-and-roll, though he’ll always trend more toward creating his own looks. He’s quietly struggling to finish at the rim, posting a career-low 51.1 percent shooting within three feet, nearly 10 percent lower than his 60.0 percent mark with the Lakers in 2020-21. On defense, Schröder’s often at a substantial size disadvantage, but he’s good at pressuring ballhandlers and navigating pick-and-rolls.

His recent 3-point surge is unsustainable – he’s shooting 40.3 percent on 3s since Dec. 11, well above his 33.9 percent career average – but is nonetheless encouraging. Moving forward, he’s the projected starting point guard and an integral contributor.

Thomas Bryant: B+
Notable numbers: 12.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 68.3 2-point percentage, 41.2 3-point percentage, 69.6 true shooting percentage

Bryant has been the surprise of the season and has been the best of the Laker retreads (Bryant, Schröder and Jones). He and Schröder coincidentally suffered identical thumb injuries, notably hurting Bryant’s standing as he suffered through a lackluster preseason and Wenyen Gabriel broke out.

But Davis’ injury in mid-December created a giant hole in the middle that Bryant has admirably filled. He has looked like one of the game’s best backup centers, and someone who could easily start for several teams. He’s been on a month-long shooting hot streak, connecting on seemingly every type of shot. That makes him a dynamic pick-and-roll weapon capable of rolling and dunking on an opponent on one possession, then pick-and-popping for a 3-pointer in their face on the next one. He catches everything.

Bryant has one considerable knock on his game: his defense. Statistically, he rates as one of the league’s worst defenders. Second-year Rockets center Alperen Şengün destroyed him on Monday, to the point where the Lakers had to take Bryant off the floor. It’s hard to see this changing, as Bryant just lacks the instincts or agility to be a plus defender. The Lakers have a team-worst 118.1 defensive rating with Bryant on the floor since Davis’ injury.

Bryant’s role upon Davis’ return is another interesting subplot for the second half of the season. James has already made the case that Bryant should start, forming a giant trio of Bryant, Davis and James up front. Regardless, Bryant’s emergence has shifted the Lakers’ trade needs away from the center position, though they could use another plus defender in their frontcourt.

Patrick Beverley: C-
Notable numbers: 6.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 34.2 3-point percentage, 53.7 true shooting percentage

Beverley was the Lakers’ splashy offseason acquisition. In theory, his 3-and-D skill set and fiery leadership was exactly what the team needed around James and Davis, even if he wasn’t in the ideal 6-foot-6 to 6-foot-9 height range. He embraced his return to Los Angeles (he played for the Clippers from 2017 to 2021), even launching a popular sports and culture podcast.

But Beverley has shown his age this year. He’s turning into a non-threat who either is passing up open looks or forcing shots to try to shake out of his slump (33.3 percent on catch-and-shoot 3s). His 10.5 usage percent is the lowest of his career, although that’s partly because the Lakers have deployed him more as a wing.

Beverley’s defense, while still great, isn’t at the All-Defense level it once was. There are too many times he’s randomly fouling near half court, which not only limits his playing time but also puts the Lakers’ opponents in the bonus earlier in the quarter. The Lakers’ defense has been better when he’s off the floor, allowing 2.5 points per 100 possessions fewer than when he’s on. He’s not rebounding like he did in past years.

The Lakers coaching staff loves Beverley’s leadership and intensity. He’s got his teammates’ backs. He’s a tone-setter for the locker room, which nudges him from the D range into the low Cs. He still does a lot of the little things that go unnoticed. And like many of the Lakers, he’s played better recently, regaining his shooting stroke (47.2 percent 3-point shooting since Dec. 13). But he hasn’t lived up to the lofty expectations, especially when factoring in that he’s the fourth-highest-paid player on the team.

He remains the Laker most likely to be traded given his contract and their surplus of backcourt options.

Troy Brown Jr.: B-
Notable numbers: 6.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 36.1 3-point percentage, 56.2 true shooting percentage

The Lakers signed Brown Jr. hoping he could help fill their wing needs after he displayed 3-and-D skills with the Chicago Bulls over the past season and a half. Considering he’s a veteran minimum signing and has often played out of position in undersized lineups, he’s done a decent job.

No Lakers’ role has fluctuated as much as Brown Jr.’s this season. He’s gone from starter to bench player and back. He was an essential part of the offense early in the season and is now mainly just a spot-up shooter. He’s played almost as many minutes at power forward (45 percent of his minutes) as small forward (53 percent), which is closer to his natural position.

His most valuable contribution this season has been his shooting. He’s making a career-best 36.1 percent of his 3s, which has caused his role to increase recently (along with injuries to Reaves and Walker IV). He’s also handled most of the tougher wing assignments defensively. He should remain a key member of the rotation and has a solid case to start.

Wenyen Gabriel: B+
Notable numbers: 6.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 66.4 2-point percentage, 39.1 3-point percentage, 67.6 true shooting percentage

For the second straight season, Gabriel has provided length, athleticism and energy to a roster badly needing those characteristics. But Gabriel is far more skilled than often advertised. He’s much improved as a roller and finisher and has flashed the ability to attack closeouts and take defenders to the rim off the dribble. His near-40 percent 3-point shooting, in particular, has been an encouraging recent development.

He remains foul-prone, which prevents him from playing more. He needs to work on showing his hands on defense, as the Lakers’ coaching staff will often remind him. There are times his teammates, including James, show visible frustration for his mistakes on both sides of the ball. But unlike Bryant, Gabriel is able to use his instincts and athleticism to be a useful defender outside of considerable size mismatches.

Ultimately, Gabriel has been the team’s most consistent big man aside from Davis. He’s proved he belongs in the league, replicating his production from last season. He should be considered a success story as a legitimate bench option.

Kendrick Nunn: D+
Notable numbers: 6.4 points, 31.2 3-point percentage, 49.1 true shooting percentage

After missing all of last season, Nunn, the Lakers’ primary free-agent signing of the 2021 offseason, was penciled in as a backcourt starter. But it took just one preseason game for him to lose the spot, as he struggled to fit in with the starters.

Nunn’s shot has been wildly inconsistent, and he hasn’t provided enough as a playmaker or defender to offset that lack of impact. His first, second and sometimes third inclination is to shoot, which can be detrimental on a roster already featuring more reliable scoring options (James, Davis, Westbrook, Walker IV, Schröder, Reaves and Bryant). As harsh as it sounds, there have been far too many stretches this season in which Nunn has been invisible on both ends.

To his credit, he’s played better recently, averaging 11.4 points on 47.8 percent shooting over the past two weeks. But he’s been arguably the most disappointing Laker this season. He’s among the most likely candidates to be traded ahead of the trade deadline.

Juan Toscano-Anderson: C-
Notable numbers: 2.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 57.5 true shooting percentage

With limited spending power in free agency, Toscano-Anderson was a budget wing signing who added experience, toughness and defensive versatility. He joined the Lakers after three seasons in Golden State, where he won a championship in 2022 and learned how to complement numerous superstar teammates.

Toscano-Anderson’s defense and energy have consistently been factors when healthy, but his 22.2 percent 3-point shooting has limited his role. The Lakers are 13.0 points per 100 possesions worse offensively with him on the floor. His shooting struggles, along with an ankle injury that sidelined him for a few weeks, pushed him deep on the bench.

Recently, Ham has returned to Toscano-Anderson with Reaves and Walker IV injured (and Brown Jr. missing a few games). He’s played better since then, bolstering small lineups as something of a Swiss Army knife. His defensive numbers are solid, and he could play a larger role in the second half of the season if his 3-point shot normalizes closer to his 35-percent career average.

Max Christie: B
Notable numbers: 3.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, 42.2 3-point percentage, 54.5 true shooting percentage

Christie appears to be the latest underrated discovery by the Lakers’ scouting department. He’s a couple of years away from being a high-level impact player, as he still has to gain experience and add more strength to his lanky frame. In the meantime, he’s shown that he’s capable of contributing as a second-round pick.

Christie is a solid perimeter defender who uses his feet and length well along with his high basketball IQ. He’s an active rebounder, a skill he showcased during summer league. And his 3-point shot, which was arguably his most significant question mark entering the league, has been elite on low volume. Christie is shooting better on 3s (42.2 percent) than 2s (40.0).

The latter mark is something he’ll eventually have to address. He’s too thin and is pushed around too easily; his 36.4 percent shooting within three feet of the basket is almost half the league average. But if he can continue to get stronger, his NBA-ready defense and 3-point shooting will yield a long career.

Damian Jones: D
Notable numbers: 2.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 0.6 blocks, 61.4 true shooting percentage

Los Angeles prioritized cap flexibility this past offseason by signing primarily one-year deals. Jones was an exception, signing a two-year contract (he has a player option for the 2023-24 season). The Lakers appeared intent on rectifying the mistake of letting Jones walk in the 2020-21 season; he had turned into a solid backup center in his ensuing season and a half in Sacramento.

On paper, Jones presented a return to the 2019-20 model of an athletic, rim-running, shot-blocking center next to Davis. He entered training camp as the penciled-in starting center. But Jones has struggled to master his chemistry with the ballhandlers in the pick-and-roll, drawing side-eyes from James in multiple games. His agility isn’t as effective in Ham’s drop scheme (though he is averaging a career high in blocks per 100 possessions).

He’s played in just one game since Christmas, joining Beverley and Nunn as the team’s greatest disappointments.
 
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Clippers and Warriors have had easy schedules up to this point, so it will get harder for them moving forward.
Thunder have the easiest schedule the rest of the way out including three games vs the Lakers remaining.
Lakers have three games vs Thunder, two games vs Suns/T'Wolves/Warriors/Clippers/Blazers that loom large.
 
pmatic said:


Lakers midseason report card: Grades for LeBron James, Anthony Davis and others

Following a 140-132 win over the Houston Rockets on Monday, the Los Angeles Lakers are 20-24 through 44 games — a 37-win pace over an 82-game season.

Now that we’re just past the midway point of the season, it’s time to review each player’s 2022-23 campaign to date in the latest State of the Lakers. (Previous versions from this season are here, here and here.)

Note: Letters are tailored to each player and are relative to expectations, so two players having the same grade doesn’t mean they’re equally good or have performed similarly. Factors used to determine grades include statistics (per-game, per-possession and more advanced measures), lineup data, film review, consideration of role, skill set, age, performance relative to contract and in comparison this season with recent seasons. Injuries do not affect the grade.

LeBron James: A-
Notable numbers: 29.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 29.3 3-point percentage, 58.7 true shooting percentage

We’re running out of superlatives to describe James’ greatness as he breaks milestone after milestone into his late 30s. Players aren’t supposed to be this great this late into their careers. Like Tom Brady in the NFL, James is rewriting the possibilities for aging NBA legends.

James has morphed into more of a scorer over the past two seasons (though he’s still 13th in the NBA in assists per game), carrying subpar offensive groups with his multifaceted offensive attack as a ballhandler, screener, roller and post-up threat. He’s taken on more offensive responsibility since Anthony Davis’ injury, averaging 34.6 points per game on 55.5 percent shooting since Dec. 18. James is doing that while also almost exclusively playing power forward and center, positions that require withstanding a greater physical toll defensively.

James doesn’t earn an A because of his slowish start and his struggles at the 3-point line, where he’s shooting 29.3 percent. Otherwise, it’s difficult to poke holes in his 2022-23 performance. He’s been great and will soon reach another crowning achievement when he passes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the league’s all-time leading scorer. James is on pace to achieve the milestone by early February, which also so happens to be when the other most interesting subplot of the Lakers’ season will be determined: whether to include a first-round pick (or two) to make a trade to upgrade the roster and appease James before the Feb. 9 trade deadline.

Anthony Davis: A
Notable numbers: 27.4 points, 12.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.3 steals, 2.1 blocks, 66.2 true shooting percentage

Davis’ goal entering the season was to play all 82 games. That dream quickly ended with Davis missing his first contest by the Lakers’ fifth game. But Davis’ approach to the season showed he would made it a point to play through pain and discomfort more often than in the past.

The Lakers had initially planned on going back to their 2019-20 formula of starting a center alongside Davis, with Thomas Bryant or Damian Jones as the leading candidates. But with both players struggling early in training camp and Bryant suffering a thumb injury in the preseason, the Lakers were forced to start Davis at center to begin the season. He’s played center exclusively this season, sharing a total of 13 minutes all season with Bryant and less than one minute with Jones.

The result was Davis playing at a career-best level, rivaled only by short stretches in New Orleans and his three-month stint in Orlando for the 2020 Bubble. Davis re-established himself as a clear-cut top-10 NBA player for the first time since the end of the 2020-21 season, posting career highs in true shooting percentage (66.2), 2-point percentage (61.8 percent) and PER (31.9), while becoming a dominant rebounder again. His jump shot returned, at least inside the arc. He’d be in the conversation for NBA Defensive Player of the Year if he had played more games.

But as has been the case the past three seasons, Davis suffered a serious injury that caused him to miss a significant portion of the season. His right foot got caught on Nikola Jokić‘s calf on Dec. 16, leading to a bone spur fracture of his navicular bone and a further stress reaction. Davis has missed the past month and is progressing toward an early February return, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

Russell Westbrook: C+
Notable numbers: 15.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 1.0 steals, 29.1 3-point percentage, 50.1 true shooting percentage

It’s interesting how the perception of Westbrook’s play swings wildly between two extremes. His numbers are nearly identical to last season’s on a per-minute and per-possession basis (aside from his assists, which have remarkably increased from 9.8 to 12.8 per 100 possessions). He’s shooting worse on 2-pointers and 3-pointers. He’s posting his lowest true shooting percentage since his second season. Yet the national view is that Westbrook is playing much better this season after fitting in so poorly last year and being the subject of so many summer trade rumors.

Staggering the minutes of Westbrook and James more than last season has allowed Westbrook to have more opportunity with the ball in his hands as the team’s leading ballhandler. That’s his comfort zone, and it’s paid off with Westbrook creating for teammates in the pick-and-roll and playing with greater joy. He’s led effective bench units that have often saved the starters’ subpar starts. In spurts, the Oklahoma City version of Westbrook is still there.

But Westbrook’s shooting and decision-making remain significant issues that harm the Lakers, particularly in crunchtime. Los Angeles has dropped several close games this season because opponents have matched up their center on Westbrook in crunchtime to take advantage of his perimeter shooting woes. That tactic gums up the rest of the Lakers’ offense and clogs driving lanes (with Westbrook occasionally embracing the challenge head-on). Coach Darvin Ham has occasionally benched Westbrook in fourth-quarter stretches, which former head coach Frank Vogel rarely did. But it’s often difficult to sit Westbrook late in games given the recent shorthanded state of the roster and how well Westbrook often plays before the midpoint of the fourth.

Westbrook has bought into Ham’s vision of him coming off the bench (even if he was reluctant at first), and has remained a professional despite not always playing 30-plus minutes or closing every game. Both sides have accepted that the partnership can still be effective, even if it’s far from perfect.

Westbrook is the most difficult Laker to grade. The NBA Sixth Man of the Year candidate is just so polarizing. As things stand, the Lakers are unlikely to move him by the Feb. 9 trade deadline, though that could change if the league’s trade market dramatically changes over the next three weeks.

Austin Reaves: A-
Notable numbers: 10.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 36.0 3-point percentage, 64.5 true shooting percentage

Reaves picked up where he left off last year, emerging as the Lakers’ third-best player for much of the season before a recent hamstring injury. He’s cemented himself as one of the roster’s few reliable two-way options, capable of shapeshifting his role within lineups depending on what’s needed. He’s beginning to actualize his shooting potential; earlier in the season, he and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry were the only two players to flirt with 50-40-90 shooting numbers.

The biggest knock on Reaves is he’s too selfless at times, forcing passes to teammates instead of taking the shot himself. But even that quality mixes well with many of the other shoot-first players on this team.

Reaves’ basketball IQ differentiates him from the average role player. He’s always thinking one or two steps ahead, balancing his cerebral play with the mettle to mix it up for loose balls, defend larger players and battle in the paint. He’s tied for fourth in the league in charges drawn per game.

The Lakers have preferred to bring Reaves off the bench given his chemistry with Westbrook, but he’s become a closing lock next to James and Davis. There’s a reasonable argument to be made that he should be starting regardless of his effect on the bench unit, as Reaves is a plus-minus darling who finds a way to make every lineup better.

Lonnie Walker IV: B
Notable numbers: 14.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 38.4 3-point percentage, 57.8 true shooting percentage

Considering Walker IV’s inconsistency in San Antonio and the team’s glaring need for a bigger 3-and-D wing, the Lakers’ decision to use their entire taxpayer midlevel exception on him was surprising to many across the league. But Walker IV has lived up to his contract as the Lakers’ fourth scorer and best 3-point shooter this season.

Comparing Walker IV’s situation to Malik Monk’s last year is trite, but there are some obvious parallels. Both are high-scoring combo guards who were picked in the first round of the draft before their original teams gave up on them ahead of free agency. Like Monk, Walker IV is thriving with a bigger role in Los Angeles and is poised to parlay his success into a bigger payday next summer, whether from the Lakers or another team.

Walker IV has started the third-most games on the current roster, playing everything from point guard to power forward despite his 6-foot-4 frame. He’s been a revelation in transition, where his burst and athleticism make him a terror to defend. In half-court situations, he’s become a reliable shooter (39.3 percent on catch-and-shoot 3s) who also excels in pick-and-rolls and attacking closeouts.

Before his recent injury, Walker IV had stopped doing much outside of scoring. His defense has slipped, as Ham has alluded to multiple times, and he doesn’t offer the same rebounding or playmaking as other options like Reaves, Troy Brown Jr. and Max Christie. The team has been badly outscored when Walker IV is on the floor, which isn’t the case for most of the rotation regulars.

Still, his 3-point shooting and explosive transition play are important attributes that the Lakers have missed lately. He’s the type of wild card most teams need.

Dennis Schröder: B
Notable numbers: 12.2 points, 3.7 assists, 36.2 3-point percentage, 56.5 true shooting percentage

Schröder was the last addition to the roster, raising speculation that the Lakers were preparing to trade Westbrook because of a backcourt logjam. Instead, the Lakers have kept to the vision they promoted back then, holding an open competition at the beginning of the season and deploying a ton of three-guard lineups.

The Lakers are familiar with Schröder, who played for them in 2020-21, and may (or may not, according to him) have turned down a large contract extension. After a preseason thumb injury sidelined him for a few weeks, Schröder quickly earned a starting spot. He’s impressed, returning to his 2020-21 form as a reliable scorer and pesky on-ball defender.

Schröder offers a level of speed and guile the Lakers desperately need offensively. He’s demonstrated better passing instincts in the pick-and-roll, though he’ll always trend more toward creating his own looks. He’s quietly struggling to finish at the rim, posting a career-low 51.1 percent shooting within three feet, nearly 10 percent lower than his 60.0 percent mark with the Lakers in 2020-21. On defense, Schröder’s often at a substantial size disadvantage, but he’s good at pressuring ballhandlers and navigating pick-and-rolls.

His recent 3-point surge is unsustainable – he’s shooting 40.3 percent on 3s since Dec. 11, well above his 33.9 percent career average – but is nonetheless encouraging. Moving forward, he’s the projected starting point guard and an integral contributor.

Thomas Bryant: B+
Notable numbers: 12.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 68.3 2-point percentage, 41.2 3-point percentage, 69.6 true shooting percentage

Bryant has been the surprise of the season and has been the best of the Laker retreads (Bryant, Schröder and Jones). He and Schröder coincidentally suffered identical thumb injuries, notably hurting Bryant’s standing as he suffered through a lackluster preseason and Wenyen Gabriel broke out.

But Davis’ injury in mid-December created a giant hole in the middle that Bryant has admirably filled. He has looked like one of the game’s best backup centers, and someone who could easily start for several teams. He’s been on a month-long shooting hot streak, connecting on seemingly every type of shot. That makes him a dynamic pick-and-roll weapon capable of rolling and dunking on an opponent on one possession, then pick-and-popping for a 3-pointer in their face on the next one. He catches everything.

Bryant has one considerable knock on his game: his defense. Statistically, he rates as one of the league’s worst defenders. Second-year Rockets center Alperen Şengün destroyed him on Monday, to the point where the Lakers had to take Bryant off the floor. It’s hard to see this changing, as Bryant just lacks the instincts or agility to be a plus defender. The Lakers have a team-worst 118.1 defensive rating with Bryant on the floor since Davis’ injury.

Bryant’s role upon Davis’ return is another interesting subplot for the second half of the season. James has already made the case that Bryant should start, forming a giant trio of Bryant, Davis and James up front. Regardless, Bryant’s emergence has shifted the Lakers’ trade needs away from the center position, though they could use another plus defender in their frontcourt.

Patrick Beverley: C-
Notable numbers: 6.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 34.2 3-point percentage, 53.7 true shooting percentage

Beverley was the Lakers’ splashy offseason acquisition. In theory, his 3-and-D skill set and fiery leadership was exactly what the team needed around James and Davis, even if he wasn’t in the ideal 6-foot-6 to 6-foot-9 height range. He embraced his return to Los Angeles (he played for the Clippers from 2017 to 2021), even launching a popular sports and culture podcast.

But Beverley has shown his age this year. He’s turning into a non-threat who either is passing up open looks or forcing shots to try to shake out of his slump (33.3 percent on catch-and-shoot 3s). His 10.5 usage percent is the lowest of his career, although that’s partly because the Lakers have deployed him more as a wing.

Beverley’s defense, while still great, isn’t at the All-Defense level it once was. There are too many times he’s randomly fouling near half court, which not only limits his playing time but also puts the Lakers’ opponents in the bonus earlier in the quarter. The Lakers’ defense has been better when he’s off the floor, allowing 2.5 points per 100 possessions fewer than when he’s on. He’s not rebounding like he did in past years.

The Lakers coaching staff loves Beverley’s leadership and intensity. He’s got his teammates’ backs. He’s a tone-setter for the locker room, which nudges him from the D range into the low Cs. He still does a lot of the little things that go unnoticed. And like many of the Lakers, he’s played better recently, regaining his shooting stroke (47.2 percent 3-point shooting since Dec. 13). But he hasn’t lived up to the lofty expectations, especially when factoring in that he’s the fourth-highest-paid player on the team.

He remains the Laker most likely to be traded given his contract and their surplus of backcourt options.

Troy Brown Jr.: B-
Notable numbers: 6.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 36.1 3-point percentage, 56.2 true shooting percentage

The Lakers signed Brown Jr. hoping he could help fill their wing needs after he displayed 3-and-D skills with the Chicago Bulls over the past season and a half. Considering he’s a veteran minimum signing and has often played out of position in undersized lineups, he’s done a decent job.

No Lakers’ role has fluctuated as much as Brown Jr.’s this season. He’s gone from starter to bench player and back. He was an essential part of the offense early in the season and is now mainly just a spot-up shooter. He’s played almost as many minutes at power forward (45 percent of his minutes) as small forward (53 percent), which is closer to his natural position.

His most valuable contribution this season has been his shooting. He’s making a career-best 36.1 percent of his 3s, which has caused his role to increase recently (along with injuries to Reaves and Walker IV). He’s also handled most of the tougher wing assignments defensively. He should remain a key member of the rotation and has a solid case to start.

Wenyen Gabriel: B+
Notable numbers: 6.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 66.4 2-point percentage, 39.1 3-point percentage, 67.6 true shooting percentage

For the second straight season, Gabriel has provided length, athleticism and energy to a roster badly needing those characteristics. But Gabriel is far more skilled than often advertised. He’s much improved as a roller and finisher and has flashed the ability to attack closeouts and take defenders to the rim off the dribble. His near-40 percent 3-point shooting, in particular, has been an encouraging recent development.

He remains foul-prone, which prevents him from playing more. He needs to work on showing his hands on defense, as the Lakers’ coaching staff will often remind him. There are times his teammates, including James, show visible frustration for his mistakes on both sides of the ball. But unlike Bryant, Gabriel is able to use his instincts and athleticism to be a useful defender outside of considerable size mismatches.

Ultimately, Gabriel has been the team’s most consistent big man aside from Davis. He’s proved he belongs in the league, replicating his production from last season. He should be considered a success story as a legitimate bench option.

Kendrick Nunn: D+
Notable numbers: 6.4 points, 31.2 3-point percentage, 49.1 true shooting percentage

After missing all of last season, Nunn, the Lakers’ primary free-agent signing of the 2021 offseason, was penciled in as a backcourt starter. But it took just one preseason game for him to lose the spot, as he struggled to fit in with the starters.

Nunn’s shot has been wildly inconsistent, and he hasn’t provided enough as a playmaker or defender to offset that lack of impact. His first, second and sometimes third inclination is to shoot, which can be detrimental on a roster already featuring more reliable scoring options (James, Davis, Westbrook, Walker IV, Schröder, Reaves and Bryant). As harsh as it sounds, there have been far too many stretches this season in which Nunn has been invisible on both ends.

To his credit, he’s played better recently, averaging 11.4 points on 47.8 percent shooting over the past two weeks. But he’s been arguably the most disappointing Laker this season. He’s among the most likely candidates to be traded ahead of the trade deadline.

Juan Toscano-Anderson: C-
Notable numbers: 2.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 57.5 true shooting percentage

With limited spending power in free agency, Toscano-Anderson was a budget wing signing who added experience, toughness and defensive versatility. He joined the Lakers after three seasons in Golden State, where he won a championship in 2022 and learned how to complement numerous superstar teammates.

Toscano-Anderson’s defense and energy have consistently been factors when healthy, but his 22.2 percent 3-point shooting has limited his role. The Lakers are 13.0 points per 100 possesions worse offensively with him on the floor. His shooting struggles, along with an ankle injury that sidelined him for a few weeks, pushed him deep on the bench.

Recently, Ham has returned to Toscano-Anderson with Reaves and Walker IV injured (and Brown Jr. missing a few games). He’s played better since then, bolstering small lineups as something of a Swiss Army knife. His defensive numbers are solid, and he could play a larger role in the second half of the season if his 3-point shot normalizes closer to his 35-percent career average.

Max Christie: B
Notable numbers: 3.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, 42.2 3-point percentage, 54.5 true shooting percentage

Christie appears to be the latest underrated discovery by the Lakers’ scouting department. He’s a couple of years away from being a high-level impact player, as he still has to gain experience and add more strength to his lanky frame. In the meantime, he’s shown that he’s capable of contributing as a second-round pick.

Christie is a solid perimeter defender who uses his feet and length well along with his high basketball IQ. He’s an active rebounder, a skill he showcased during summer league. And his 3-point shot, which was arguably his most significant question mark entering the league, has been elite on low volume. Christie is shooting better on 3s (42.2 percent) than 2s (40.0).

The latter mark is something he’ll eventually have to address. He’s too thin and is pushed around too easily; his 36.4 percent shooting within three feet of the basket is almost half the league average. But if he can continue to get stronger, his NBA-ready defense and 3-point shooting will yield a long career.

Damian Jones: D
Notable numbers: 2.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 0.6 blocks, 61.4 true shooting percentage

Los Angeles prioritized cap flexibility this past offseason by signing primarily one-year deals. Jones was an exception, signing a two-year contract (he has a player option for the 2023-24 season). The Lakers appeared intent on rectifying the mistake of letting Jones walk in the 2020-21 season; he had turned into a solid backup center in his ensuing season and a half in Sacramento.

On paper, Jones presented a return to the 2019-20 model of an athletic, rim-running, shot-blocking center next to Davis. He entered training camp as the penciled-in starting center. But Jones has struggled to master his chemistry with the ballhandlers in the pick-and-roll, drawing side-eyes from James in multiple games. His agility isn’t as effective in Ham’s drop scheme (though he is averaging a career high in blocks per 100 possessions).

He’s played in just one game since Christmas, joining Beverley and Nunn as the team’s greatest disappointments.
Click to expand...


Mans really hates Russ
 
Trading for a shooter is great...

Will Bron stop holding the ball for 18 seconds just to either pass with no time left or pull a stupid step back three?

Honestly Max could be a corner shooter but Bron wants to be the hero....
 
tupac003 said:
Trading for a shooter is great...

Will Bron stop holding the ball for 18 seconds just to either pass with no time left or pull a stupid step back three?

Honestly Max could be a corner shooter but Bron wants to be the hero....
Click to expand...
Chicken-egg argument because defenses are sitting on Bron dribbling from the top of the key with no dependable shooters on the floor.

Edit:
 
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