2018-19 Lakers - Part 4: Power Forwards - Los Angeles Sports Nation

This is part four of a five part series, focusing on the Lakers Power Forwards for the 2018-19 season. We’ll discuss their projected roles, recent achievements, and injury risks.

This section includes free agent acquisition Michael Beasley, G League prospect Travis Wear, and arguably the best basketball player in the known universe, LeBron James.

LBJ — Photo Credit: Jason Miller / Getty Images

LeBron James #23 (SF/PF)

Projected Role: Starting Power Forward And early MVP favorite
Salary this season: $35.65M with 3 years remaining after this season
33 years old, in his 16th NBA season
Drafted #1 overall by the Cavs in the 2003-04 draft

2017-18 (Cavaliers)

Played all 82 games for the first time in his career
Averages: 27.5 points / 9.1 assists / 8.6 rebounds

Career Highlights

NBA Rookie of the Year in 2003-04
NBA Scoring Champion in 2007-08
3 time NBA champion
4 time regular season MVP
3 time NBA Finals MVP
14 time NBA All-Star
3 time NBA All-Star Game MVP
12 time All-NBA First Team
2 Time All-NBA Second Team
5 time NBA All-Defensive First Team
1 time NBA All-Defensive Second Team
2 time Associated Press Athlete of the Year
2 time Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year
J Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award winner in 2016-17
Team USA Male Basketball Player of the Year
2 time Olympic Gold Medalist
1 time FIBA Americas Champion
Active streak of 8 consecutive NBA Finals appearances

The LeBron James “I Promise” School

During this off-season, LeBron helped fund and open a school for at-risk children in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. Benefits for the children include all of the following:
Free Tuition
Free Uniforms
Free Bicycle and Helmet
Free Transportation Within 2 Miles
Free Breakfast, Lunch, and Snacks
Free Food Pantries for Families
GED and Job Placement Services for Parents
Free Tuition to the University of Akron for all Graduating Students

Injuries

In his illustrious 15 year career, LeBron has played more games and minutes then anyone to ever play the game. Between deep playoff runs and US National Team appearances, he has still managed to play 74+ games in 13 of his 15 seasons. The other two seasons he played 69 and 62 games. King James is a textbook example of durability. When his performance one day begins to decline, it will likely be due to Father Time, not injuries. He did suffer a broken hand last season after losing game 1 of the NBA Finals when he punched a wall, but appears to have fully recovered.

Michael Beasley #8 (SF/PF)

Projected Role: Tough veteran presence off the bench, and a solid isolation scorer with the second unit
Salary this season: $3.5M on a 1-year contract
In 2008-09 he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team
29 years old, in his 11th NBA season
Has played for 6 NBA teams before the Lakers, as well as 2 CBA teams in China
In 2014-15, he played for the Shanghai Sharks in China. He scored 59 points in the CBA All-Star game that year
In 2015-16, he played for the Shandong Golden Stars, also of the CBA. He averaged 31.9 points per game that year and was named Foreign MVP of the league

2017-18 (Knicks)

Averages: 13.2 points / 1.7 assists / 5.6 rebounds
Came off the bench and scored 32 points with 12 rebounds in under 25 minutes against the Celtics. He scored 28 in the 2nd half
Had several games where he scored 28-32 points. In a few of those games, he had over 10 rebounds as well

Injuries

In 2008 during his first ever NBA practice, Beasley suffered a cracked sternum. In 2016-17, he missed 17 games due to a hyperextended knee. Neither of those injuries have slowed him down, and he can still contribute when called upon.

Travis Wear #21 (SF/PF)

Projected Role: G League prospect. Wear signed a 2-way contract which means he will likely spend a majority of the season on the Lakers G League squad, barring a tremendous breakout or multiple injuries on the Lakers main roster
27 years old, in his 5th professional season
Drafted in 2014-15 by the Knicks
Has been a part of the Lakers organization via Summer League and G League since 2016

2014-18 (Knicks / Spanish League / Lakers)

For most of his career, Wear has been just shy of earning a season long roster spot at an NBA level. Give him credit for sticking with his dream, as he’s signed multiple 10-day contracts and has made several appearances for the Lakers during the regular season
He’s played in the Spanish League, as well as for the Lakers Summer League Squad as well as their G League team, as he will be doing this season
During one game in his rookie season with the Kicks, he defended LeBron James for a short length of time, keeping LBJ to 0/4 in shot attempts

Injuries