Looking at the New Depth Chart of the Lakers

The Lakers have re-tooled this offseason, making groundbreaking trades, and making key free-agent signings on their quest for back to back titles. 

The Lakers added serious firepower at the point guard position with a trade that landed Dennis Schröder. Wesley Matthews and the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, Montrezl Harrell were also signed at the beginning of free agency. The Purple & Gold even signed veteran center Marc Gasol, brother of 2-time Laker champ Pau, to give some extra strength down low. 

With all these new faces for the team, the depth chart and rotation will surely look different from last season.

Let’s take a look at how the 2020-2021 Lakers will look like this coming season.

Guards

Dennis Schröder, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Wesley Matthews, Alex Caruso, Talen Horton-Tucker

The guard rotation will look quite different from the departures of Rajon Rondo and Danny Green during the offseason. The starting guards will most likely be Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Wesley Matthews. With Lebron handling most of the ball-handling duties again this season, expect KCP and Matthews to be his 3-and-D mates in the backcourt to aid in stretching the defense, and stopping the speedy guards on the opposing team. 

Dennis Schröder will be expected to come off the bench, just like he did with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He finished second in the Sixth Man of the Year award as he averaged 18.9 points per game, 3.6 rebounds per game, and 4.0 assists per game off the bench for the Thunder last season. Alex Caruso, who has been getting more and more minutes last season, will be another steady option off the Laker bench.

Also, expect second-year guard Talen-Horton Tucker to be given a few more opportunities this coming season as he has shown some flashes of brilliance in his rookie season when given the chance. 

Forwards

LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Kyle Kuzma, Markieff Morris, Alfonzo McKinnie, Jordan Bell, Kostas Antetokounmpo, Jared Dudley

The Lakers will have a loaded forward rotation this coming season. Led of course by their two stars, Lebron James and Anthony Davis, who will be looking to lead their team to another title. Following them off the bench in a variety of options, but most likely Kyle Kuzma and Markieff Morris will get heavy minutes off the bench as they have shown that they can be relied on, especially during the 2020 playoff run. 

Aside from Kuz and Markieff, they also have Alfonzo McKinnie and Jordan Bell, who came over from the JaVale Mcgee trade. They also have a young forward with a lot of potential in Kostas Antetokounmpo, brother of two-time reigning MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo. Closing out their forwards would be veteran sharpshooter, and a major glue guy for the team, Jared Dudley.

Centers

Marc Gasol, Montrezl Harrell

The big men of the Lakers have changed heaps, as Javale Mcgee and Dwight Howard from last season have turned into Marc Gasol and Montrezl Harrell. Marc Gasol will be most expected to be the starter, providing a good presence down low on defense, and can give the starting unit an added offensive boost when needed.

Odds are Montrezl Harrell, who is fresh off winning the Sixth Man of the Year award, will be handling the big men’s duties off the bench, providing the paint scoring and energy for the Purple & Gold. 

The Lakers may look very different from last season, but they are still expected to be one of the favorites to win the title, and go back to back.

Laker fans will surely have high expectations, hopefully, the team can live up to these expectations. The NBA season is scheduled to begin on December 22, and all the fans cannot wait for basketball to be back.

Featured Image: Nathaniel S. Butler/nba.com