Quick Look: Where the Lakers’ Roster Currently Stands

With about another month to go before the Lakers open training camp, now is as good a time as any to take a quick review of where the team’s roster currently stands. With the recent signing of Jonathan Holmes, the Lakers have 15 players under contract:

Guards and Wings

• D’Angelo Russell
• Jordan Clarkson
• Kobe Bryant
• Lou Williams
• Nick Young
• Jabari Brown
• Anthony Brown

Power Forwards

• Julius Randle
• Brandon Bass
• Ryan Kelly
• Larry Nance Jr.
• Jonathan Holmes

Centers

• Roy Hibbert
• Tarik Black
• Robert Sacre

Of the 15 players above, Tarik Black and Jabari Brown have non-guaranteed contracts for next year while Jonathan Holmes’ deal is only partially guaranteed. Per Eric Pincus, that partial amount is $100K on his two year minimum contract*.

I expect the Lakers to add anywhere from three to five additional players when the team starts training camp. Of those players, I would imagine at least one would be a point guard (Bobby Brown?), one to be another wing, and one to be a big man who can play center.

The name which was not mentioned above, but fits into the mix of positions to be looked at further, is Robert Upshaw. The big man reportedly agreed to a contract with the Lakers during summer league, but the longer that deal remains unsigned, one has to wonder if there are real holdups that may compromise that agreement. However, until we have real news on the item, I do believe it’s better to take a wait and see approach.

All in all, the Lakers’ roster is relatively balanced, though it is a bit shallow at point guard and small forward. If injuries were to occur at either of those positions, the team would likely need to slide a player into a role that’s not his natural spot in order to plug a hole. All things considered, then, a trade to sure up one or both of those spots is still a possibility — especially if it’s a deal that either brings back a player who can help fill a need or one which opens up a roster spot that can be used to ink a free agent or create some flexibility for a future move.

Of course, there is still time for other moves to shake out. The Holmes signing came out of nowhere and there could certainly be another move which surprises just like that one did.

*When the initial report came out that Holmes was signed, it was noted he had a “significant” guarantee on his contract. However, while $100K is a nice amount of money to an undrafted rookie, I do not think it would give Holmes a leg up over either of Brown or Black simply due to money. The Lakers, I do not believe, would have any issues cutting Holmes if other players show more worth to the team in the short and/or long term.