With the Los Angeles Lakers acquiring Russell Westbrook, the primary concern for the team has been spacing the floor.
Without the traded Marc Gasol, who is seemingly on his way to Spain, L.A. doesn’t have the floor-spacing personnel at center to mitigate those concerns.
Dwight Howard and DeAndre Jordan were signed by the Lakers to add frontcourt depth similar to how Howard paired with JaVale McGee in 2019-20, but Westbrook’s addition changes the team schematically.
The Lakers need to have more shooting options on the floor when Westbrook, LeBron James and Anthony Davis are playing together. The best way to achieve that, given the roster, is to slide James and Davis up a position to create room for a forward to play the 3.
According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, Rich Paul, agent of James and Davis, has said that’s happening (h/t @LakersSupply):
@JakeLFischer to @hmfaigen in the Halftime app: Rich Paul was telling other agents at the Chicago combine that LeBron and AD were sliding to the 4 and 5
— Lakers Supply (@LakersSupply) September 15, 2021
Davis has taken more 3-point shots the last four seasons than ever, but he’s still not at the level where he’d keep defenses honest from that range.
A theoretical starting lineup of Westbrook-Wayne Ellington-Kent Bazemore-James-Davis would do wonders for both the offense and defense since taller forwards like Carmelo Anthony and Trevor Ariza are more equipped to handle the power forward duties.
Davis is reportedly expected to play more minutes at center, but it’s uncertain if that will be right away as a starter. If what Paul said holds up, the Lakers will have plenty of intriguing lineups to roll out.
