A quick scan of the Lakers’ depth chart not only shows some holes the team should explore filling, but also a large overlap in the types of players the team possesses. Namely, the team has an abundance of players who do their best work with the ball in their hands as shot creators for themselves. Among the 14 players currently signed to contracts, no fewer than half are players who thrive (or project to) with the offense flowing through them:
- Kobe Bryant
- D’Angelo Russell
- Jordan Clarkson
- Julius Randle
- Nick Young
- Lou Williams
- Jabari Brown
Most of these players are guards or wings, but the inclusion of Randle on this list adds a key front court player who, ideally, is also someone who you want creating shots for himself and his teammates.
In some ways, this is a nice problem to have. In season’s past, the Lakers’ offense has starved for shot creators and players who, when an offensive set breaks down, can simply take his man off the dribble or create the type of separation needed to generate a viable shot. Too often the team relied on Kobe to be the player who could turn stifled possession into a point producing one, but it seems this upcoming season the Lakers should have no shortage of players who can accomplish this.
However, with this many capable shot creators, the question of shot distribution and sharing of the ball will almost surely be something worth monitoring throughout the season. The version of the Princeton the Lakers have run under Byron Scott has mostly been an offense predicated more on running scripted sets to try and get the ball into the hands of their best scorers than on the read and react principles that have labeled the offense a “cousin of the Triangle”. High post initiations triggered wing screen actions and some back side pin-downs which mostly led to shots coming off picks or isolations near the top of the key or in the mid-post.
The Lakers also ran a lot of pick and rolls in Scott’s inaugural season and I expect that to continue. But with Jeremy Lin and Jordan Clarkson mostly stewarding those sets, the play development mostly led to either a shot by the ball handler or one of a handful of the more basic read passes that could be made (a same side kick out pass, a drop off to a big man when the help arrived, a release valve kick out to a popping big man). These types of passes often led to quick shots rather than the type of whipping-around-the-court ball movement which are staples of the Warriors, Spurs, and Hawks offenses.
The question this leads to, then, is whether the Lakers will develop the type of chemistry and evolution on offense that will translate to a sharing of the ball and, thus, the playmaking responsibilities or if their sets will remain mostly one-note actions where isolations, post ups, and single-pass-then-shoot P&R’s rule the day. Training camp and pre-season action are sure to influence the answers to these questions, but, again, it is something to keep an eye on.
The good news for the Lakers is that they have, mostly, high IQ players who have shown an ability to create shots for others. Kobe has averaged nearly 5 assists a game for his career and hasn’t been below 4.5 per game since his third season. In the 28 games after the all-star break, Jordan Clarkson averaged 5.4 assists per game. We all saw D’Angelo Russell’s passing ability during summer league and his willingness to share the ball will surely translate to the regular season. Even Jabari Brown (2.1 assists per game last year) and Lou Williams (a strong P&R player who has averaged more than 3 assists in seven of his 10 seasons) are capable of dishing out dimes. Add Randle’s versatility from the PF position and his ability to help space the floor, create off the dribble to draw help, and then hit the open man and there is a nice foundation of players who can all be willing playmakers.
The key will be, however, not just to rack up assists, but to move the ball onto an open man even if it does not lead directly to the shot that goes into the basket. Whether the players can escape some of the ways they’ve always done things in favor of having the ball stick less and move more freely will be important. This will not only create more fluidity on offense, but it will also inflate those assist numbers too.
The Lakers have the playmakers to make this happen. Here’s the hope the coaches and players alike come to terms with how to best maximize this skill.
Joel says
Darius: Thought provoking post as always. I think year’s team will take an incremental step forward. By not having so many ‘one year deal’ players on the roster there is a much better chance that we see value that all of our playmakers can bring.
The rosters of the past two years have had far too many players that knew they were not going to be on the team the following season. Hard to develop the necessary esprit-de-corps required to be a highly functioning team.
It’s different being a Lakers fan now. In the past we were always blessed with having a very good veteran core and the off season questions were focused on what two or three moves could be made to improve the overall team. The current team has so many questions – starting with, is our proposed core of Randle/Russell/Clarkson talented enough to build on?
All the noise about Jim and Jeanie aside, that is the biggest question of this year. Hopefully, the answer is yes and we can begin to fill in specific skill sets to complement them. Knowing that doesn’t necessarily make the rebuild easier but at least we can have a game plan in place. If the answer is no, and for instance, one of the youngsters is injury prone or demonstrates the need for far more development time then this rebuild could take a lot longer.
I have very modest expectations for this year. However, I can’t wait for the season to start.
Prob says
Why do people add Jabari Brown to any equation?
Nothing against Jabari but he’s not good enough to be on our lakers roster as an option…
Baylor Fan says
I completely agree with the post and comment, everyone needs to be a playmaker for this offense to work. Having a point guard bring the ball up court and either shoot or wait to make an assist is too easy to stop. The young players showed in the Summer League that they are capable of making the hockey assist. The more players that touch the ball on offense, the more they get engaged in the game. The more the ball moves the more each player becomes a threat to score. I can live with the turnovers that come with a ball movement offense if it means more players are involved.
Stanley Rest says
The Lakers will finish 41-41.
tankyou says
The number of ball dominant wing players we have has been an issue I have been harping on. I don’t view this as a good thing, given most of these guys are defensive liabilities. Young “swaggy” is pretty much a black hole he’s a lifetime 1 assist per game guy. Williams in recent history is a shoot/drive guy, and was never an amazing PG, he’s basically just an undersized 2 guard/scorer.
Sure Swaggy and Williams both play ball dominant, but nothing willing or noticeably good about their passing.
Russel/Kobe look like the best pure passers we will have–but they are going to cough up a lot of TO’s. Kobe’s ball dominant passing also leads to loads of TO’s. Russel likely the same thing–at least for his 1st year anyway. Clarkson is an OK passer, but clearly he views himself as a scorer 1st and foremost. So Kobe/Clarkson playing together seems like another rough pairing, same with Williams, same with Swaggy. I don’t even consider J. Brown much of anything to be honest, 3rd string guy, but he may be one of our only decent 3 point shooters. We seriously are devoid of 3 & D type players on this roster. Young is the only guy that is likely to hit 36%+ from 3 point land this year, out of the guys that are likely see the floor much. I can’t imagine Kelly gets much burn, I think he’s proven he’s not a good 3, and basically a 10min a game guy as a stretch 4. Good thing Byron Scott doesn’t think 3 pointers mean much, b/c clearly this is a squad that will be all about the mid-range 2’s.
It should be interesting to say the least, especially when they start losing large strings of games, I’m very curious how Kobe reacts as “mentor” Kobe. I think this is going to be a totally different year, I don’t see some of these young guys completely deferring to Kobe anymore, they want to make a mark, and probably realize the franchise really relies on them–not Kobe for hope at this point.
Anonymous says
@Stanley Rest: The Lakers will finish 41-41.
—
I would like that but feel being in the West, with our youth, that record is a bit out of our reach. I think we’re more in the 30-52 range this year. I mean the kids would have to explode this year to get to 41-41 along with a full season and nice contributions from Kobe. I just don’t see that happening this year.
Anonymous says
Per ESPN:
The Cavs sent center Rakeem Christmas, the No. 36 overall pick in June’s draft, to the Pacers for a 2019 second-round pick owed by the Los Angeles Lakers. The trade gives the Cavs roster flexibility and an asset they can use to move Haywood and create a large trade exception in the next week.
After the trade, the Pacers and Christmas agreed to a four-year deal with the first two seasons guaranteed, sources said.
___
A couple of things:
1) Would the Lakers have been better off trading this same pick for Christmas themselves (18 pts and 9 rebs as senior)? Remember, Hibbert averages only 11 points and 7 rebounds a game and is costing $17 mil this year.
2) Why didn’t the Lakers sign Clarkson to a 4 year deal as a 2nd round pick. Now Clarkson will cost the Lakers upwards of $16 mil/yr next season instead of what would have been about a mil a year under a longer initial contract.
Robert says
“Would the Lakers have been better off trading this same pick for Christmas” Actually we could have just drafted Christmas (or Looney).
And the second round pick we had to give up in order to overpay Hibbert was not smart.
Our 2nd’s are almost like firsts these days, so they are valuable.
Articles like this concern me (even more than I have been):
http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2015-07-23/lakers-kobe-bryant-dangelo-russell-julius-randle-lordan-clarkson-player-development-future
LKK says
I think the Lakers need to identify their “playmakers” on defense. Who will rotate from the weak side to prevent penetration? Who will step in and take a charge? Who will give a hard, clean foul? I’m very disappointed to read that Mitch doesn’t think Bob Upshaw can “contribute to wins this year.” IMO, the Lakers need to get extremely lucky with an under the radar player who has the potential to blossom into something special. Upshaw’s ceiling warrants such a gamble. I’m also concerned with the notion of Kobe as the team’s starting small forward. Why should we expect him to be able to survive the extra pounding that position requires? The present lineup seems poorly balanced. What purpose do Sacre and Kelly serve? Even at their ceilings, is either a game changer? So many questions. Let’s hope we see the development in the young core of the team that will begin to provide some answers.
kareem says
Although we have a lot of shot creators, I don’t think it is as dark as tankyou is projecting. More than likely, I believe that the FO is trying to identify the playmakers of the future, so that we can have a core of scorers going forward to start building around. Joel’s assessment is fair. Can Russel, Randle, and Clarkson leap together, or will there only be individual leaps for Lakers fans to get behind. October, why so far away?
Lakersoldier says
Offense is not going to be a problem, even without Kobe. We scored even when Kobe was out with D’Antoni. We have to build chemistry so we can first take good shots because defense is really dictated a lot by your offense. Then build chemistry on defense. With Roy Hibbert we will be able to be more aggressive on the perimeter.
Ray says
Successful teams in the NBA all have shot creators, (Houston, SA, GS, Clippers, Cavs) to name a few, it is a must! However finding a balance within your offense that includes ball movement is going to be the key for the Lakers! Teams can stop your initial set, but having players who can use the pick & roll and create their own is ONE of the difference in how many games this team will win this year! The other major ONE is “Defense”! The addition of Hibbert is Huge!! People need to stop criticizing what he can’t do on offense or events with Indiana! He is a defensive changer.. Period…if Scott can get these young guys to commit to defense, find the right message to these vets to buy into team defense the Lakers will be significantly better!! There is talent on this team, and I think fans are going to be surprised with the success if we can avoid major injuries!
Vasheed says
I think we have some guys that can set other guys up namely Russell, Randle, and Upshaw. I do include Upshaw as I do see that he does a really good job of setting picks and rolling to the basket. Randle handles the ball well for a PF and Russell is just on another level. As Darius points out there are a lot of weapons on this team to distribute to.
My biggest concern is ball movement. That the offensive scheme allows for the ball to move and the weapons are selective in their shots.
My Predictions for the season:
30-35 wins: A season of disappointing development and or injuries.
36-40 wins: Rookies show development through the season and the team figures things out by midseason, few or no major injuries.
41-45 wins: Everything clicks. Weaknesses are covered up by team balance, rookies hit their stride early in the season, players buy into a successful system.
I’m expecting 36-40.
Vasheed says
I have to say the Cavs are pretty good at squeezing cap space. They traded Christmas to the Pacers for the 2nd round pick owed by the Lakers.
I am reminded of the long series of contorted deals they made last year to get Mozgov.
Todd says
Anon: Yeah, not signing Clarkson to a longer initial deal was a ‘penny wise pound foolish move’. But even with paying Clarkson $16 large starting next year the Lakers will still have only $36 Mil in guaranteed salaries or about $55 Mil below the expected $90 Mil cap. The Lakers have to spend $81 mil to get to the 90% cap floor.
Robert: Yeah, I hear you on that article. In defense of the kids it was just Summer League. However, the quotes from other NBA folks are concerning. There are red flags on each of the kids. And as rr mentioned, if Clarkson’s ceiling is as a 6th man and Randle’s is as the 3rd best player on a team then Russell needs to either be a #1 or a #2 for the Lakers have any chance of becoming competitive in what remains of this decade.
Folks have long talked about how the next year plays out:
1) It’s likely that no elite free agents will be attracted to the Lakers. Even if the young core looks good, their short track record won’t sway KD. Plus, we still have too many holes in our starting lineup and our bench is average at best. So no huge influx of talent from that end.
2) It looks like the FO is playing to be better this year. Mitch talks about the playoffs but even he softened that comment by saying everything would have to break their way for that to happen. However, it is clear that the FO and Byron will be trying to eke out every win possible this season. While I think it will be evident early in the season that the Lakers have a low ceiling I believe we’re going to win a few too many games to keep our pick. So no new young talent from the draft. (Unless they pull another Clarkson out of the hat).
So with $55 Mil in cap space burning a hole in their pockets what are they going to do? Well, what’s left is not overly appealing and will lead to more seasons of treading water or incremental improvements:
1) Overpay for older free agents. Are you excited about Nene, JJ Hickson, Chase Buddinger and Derek Williams? Neither am I. However, that’s what’s left after the top 10 FAs have signed elsewhere next summer.
2) Use cap space to facilitate trades. Well that’s a good strategy if you can pick up an asset along the way. The Lin trade was a good example. Helping Indiana out by taking Hibbert with no pick coming with him was a bad example. The players involved rarely work out. Lin didn’t and I expect Hibbert won’t either.
3) Roll cap space forward again for the Summer of 2017 FA bonanza. (Not a real strategy but Jim thinks it is)
So we will really be left with organic growth from the kids (Randle/Russell/Clarkson) to improve heading into the 2016/17 season. Yeah, this is going to take a while.
Vasheed says
@Anonymous,
As I recall it is rather difficult to setup a 4 year rookie contract with a second rounder. I forget the exact details but I believe you need to use some sort of exception. Also some 2nd rounds picks elect to sign a 1 year contract with the potential of getting a big contract sooner.
This is one of the reasons I wanted to draft Upshaw in the first round. Without all of his issues he would likely be a lottery pick. If he didn’t work out the Lakers would lose about 2 million. If he worked out though you would have him locked in for 4 years at 1 million a year roughly. If he does as well as I expect barring health issues with his heart I think he will be worth easily 15+ million per year in 2 years from now.
Craig W. says
With this talk about how we screwed up with not signing Clarkson – presuming we all knew how good he was going to be – and why we should have drafted Upshaw in the first round – instead of signing him as an undrafted free agent – it sounds like some people are setting themselves up to be able to criticize the front office, no matter how the last two drafts turn out.
No front office – even the Spurs – hits a ‘home run’ every time out. While there are things each of us can criticize about decisions made/directions taken, our Lakers have developed a pretty good batting average. Yeah, it is likely to be a longer slog than we would like, but that is the reality of today’s NBA. At some point we will have enough assets that it will make sense – both from our POV and a star player’s POV – to sign the right free agent, but that time is not now.
Let’s ease up and enjoy the process.
Vasheed says
@Craig W.
I’m actually relatively happy with how the F.O. handled this off season so far. Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t tweak a few things here and there.
Craig W. says
I understand. My biggest gripe is that they pretty much announced they would be going after the ‘big’ free agents, then when they failed, they looked incompetent. IMO they were never going to get LWA, Monroe, or Jordan, so why lead the fans on and create the PR firestorm when they failed. Since this exact scenario played out last summer, they should have learned – but didn’t.
Jordan I would have liked to see here, but I feel Hibbert is a much better fit than the other two.
Vasheed says
Last summer the Lakers had no young players and no cap to sign anyone else besides a max guy. I felt it was a horrible strategy and argued the Lakers should use their cap to free up cap for other teams and acquire picks. They at the last second managed to pick up Lin and what became a late 1st round pick.
This year the Lakers had a group of young players, cap to sign a max guy and enough cap to sign another fairly good player. I believed management made the right call to try and land a big name this year and recovered well after the failure. Maybe management should have made a better sales pitch but, the moves themselves were sound imo.
rr says
This year the Lakers had a group of young players
——
They have Russell and Randle, both of whom are unproven and neither of whom is as generally well-thought-of outside the Lakers bubble as they are inside it, especially Randle. Lakers fans also make a far bigger deal out of Clarkson than most people outside the fan base do. Yes, he made all-rookie, but I don’t see him drawing a big-time FA. As I have often said, was here, I don’t think that top-tier FAs are all that psyched about playing with young guys.
But beyond that, the Lakers were not in a position to offer IMMEDIATE contention, and that is generally what top-tier FAs want, as we have seen time and and again, including Jordan’s decision to go back to the Clippers.
So, as I have said, I don’t think the Lakers should have even met with Aldridge.
Vasheed says
Well, for our young guys there are some caveats.
I’ve been very critical of Randle as a 2 way player. I don’t think he offers rim protection and I doubt he will be that effective in the post. However, he has some range, can face up and drive, and handle the ball well. To keep him on the court and be useful he needs to be played next to a shot blocking center. The Lakers went out and got Hibbert and Upshaw. So I see Randle working out with the supporting cast.
Clarkson, has over achieved already. A mid second rounder you are usually happy if the guy is worth staying around in the league. I consider Clarkson a quality starter but , I would not confuse him to be a future all-star.
I really like Russell. The Lakers have something they haven’t had in over a decade. A PG who can really distribute the ball at a high level. He is still young I expect him to grow but I think this could be a good year for him.
I love Upshaw. I think he can have a very dramatic effect on the Lakers defense and he is not a slouch on offense. He does a lot of little things right. I only worry about the guy’s health. But otherwise I think he might be a more important pick up than Randle.
I don’t think I could have said this many positive things about our young guys since like what the 90’s? I don’t want to sound too optimistic but, I don’t see reason to be that down either,
rr says
I don”t have an issue with any of that, I was just saying that the Lakers young guys as they are now:
1. Are not going to be inducements for FAs, as we just saw.
2. Are not striking fear into fanbases and FOs around the league. Among teams at the very bottom, the one that most people think has by far the best chance based on very young guys is Minnesota, which has Towns and Wiggins, the last two #1 picks.
Vasheed says
Perhaps not. The young guys do not have a track record to point to, But Kobe has expressed supreme confidence in the F.O. to turn things around. So if you have confidence in the moves you made you express that to a Free Agent. It didn’t pan out but the F.O. went about and did a respectable job afterwards. So now we wait and see how well this F.O. did. The next year will likely determine the projection of the Lakers going forward for the next few years.
tankyou says
IF, I could take the timberwolves young talent and trade them for ours–I would do so in a heartbeat. I think Randle can turn into a really good player offensively, defensively I’m just hoping he can be average. I’m not near as hopeful about Russel as many others are, but his passing looks top notch at a young age, as long as he can hit some shots, I think he will be a nice piece–but I’m not hopefully he’s the next Chris Paul or anything. If Randle doesn’t pan out, we will need a FA eventually that can be top dog #1 option. This season it doesn’t really matter so I hope they improve and remain healthy and the team is competitive enough to give us a better sense of who is actually a guy to build around.