Lakers 2021-22 preview: A closer look at the roster

Name, position, height, weight, school/country, age

CARMELO ANTHONY, F, 6-7, 238, Syracuse, 37

There’s nary amended subordinate to commencement disconnected with than to inquire the question that defines this roster: How overmuch foodstuff does helium person left? Melo reinvented himself with 2 seasons successful Portland, shooting supra 40 percent from 3-point scope past twelvemonth and embracing a seat role. But his tendency to station up and his limitations connected defence volition beryllium year-long question marks connected his effectiveness for the Lakers.

TREVOR ARIZA, F, 215, UCLA, 36

An wounded has already started disconnected his 2nd Lakers tenure connected the incorrect foot: Ariza is retired until astatine slightest December pursuing ankle surgery. Theoretically, erstwhile helium returns, helium could assistance unlock the Lakers’ smaller lineups with his spacing and defense. But realistically, it’s been years since he’s shown an quality to lend astatine a precocious level for a contending team.

KENT BAZEMORE, G, 6-4, 195, Old Dominion, 32

Defensively, Bazemore has stood retired arsenic the benignant of perimeter subordinate Coach Frank Vogel needs aft the Lakers mislaid Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (trade) and Alex Caruso (free agency). His come-and-go 3-point shooting mightiness marque his minutes travel and spell arsenic well.

ANTHONY DAVIS, F, 6-10, 253, Kentucky, 28

The biggest question fans person is his availability. After a coagulated archetypal play playing 62 of 71 games, Davis regressed aft not getting a afloat offseason to get into shape. The All-Star large antheral says he’s backmost and re-engaged aft a afloat summer, but his willingness to play halfway is different looming contented for lineups that could request the spacing helium tin supply successful the middle.

SEKOU DOUMBOUYA*, F, 6-8, 230, Limoges, France, 20

The Lakers person a liability astatine guardant created by injuries; Doumbouya is perchance 1 onslaught distant from being retired of the league. The carnal guardant isn’t precisely an inspiring imaginable astatine this point, but helium is simply a assemblage who tin clasp the enactment astatine a presumption of request – if the Lakers request him astatine all.

WAYNE ELLINGTON, G, 6-4, 207, North Carolina, 33

Assuming his hamstring wounded isn’t serious, the doorway is wide unfastened for Ellington (another returning Laker) to prehend minutes. One happening the LeBron-Westbrook-Davis lineups don’t person locked successful is simply a dependable shooter. If helium tin play wrong the defence convincingly enough, Ellington’s off-ball question and speedy trigger heavy shot is thing the Lakers sorely need.

TALEN HORTON-TUCKER, G, 6-4, 234, Iowa State, 20

Horton-Tucker’s thumb wounded is simply a immense stroke for the Lakers, who anticipation to get him backmost successful different period oregon so. While he’s shown his champion skills scoring disconnected the dribble, this is the twelvemonth erstwhile the 20-year-old needs to turn into a antiaircraft stopper connected the wing. He has the magnitude and the physicality to beryllium that portion for the Lakers, but he’s been inconsistent.

DWIGHT HOWARD, C, 6-10, 265, SW Atlanta Christian Academy, 35

The halfway who joined the Lakers 2 years agone was broken, connected his past imaginable accidental successful the NBA. Now, Howard knows his relation arsenic good arsenic anyone. He’s inactive physically pugnacious connected opponents, and helium brings a jolt of vigor to the defence disconnected the bench. The guardrail Howard needs is erstwhile helium gets overzealous, which tin get him successful foul occupation successful a hurry.

LeBRON JAMES, F, 6-9, 250, St. Vincent-St. Mary, 36

If anyone needs to enactment particularly hard to marque the superstar trio work, it’s James. He’s started reinventing his game, taking much 3-point shots than ever before. He’s possibly the 1 dependable who tin get Russell Westbrook to bargain into the Lakers’ strategy portion simultaneously convincing Davis to play much center. Oh, and tin helium support up his All-NBA accumulation into his precocious 30s?

DeANDRE JORDAN, C, 6-11, 265, Texas A&M, 33

Nominally 1 of the Brooklyn superstars, Jordan fell retired of favour with Nets fans quickly. His attraction connected defence oscillates, and his violative crippled crowds the level astatine the rim. There’s inactive a large jock wrong Jordan, and he’s drawn bully reviews successful grooming camp. But if the Lakers find they request much spacing, Jordan could spot his relation decrease.

MALIK MONK, G, 6-3, 200, Kentucky, 23

Without the advantages of a large declaration oregon seasoned experience, the erstwhile lottery prime convincingly elbowed his mode into the preseason presumption battles. It’s good understood that Monk is simply a walking bucket, but his minutes volition apt beryllium much determined by his willingness to support which hasn’t been determination successful his archetypal fewer seasons.

KENDRICK NUNN, G, 6-2, 190, Oakland, 26

A hard-nosed defender who played for Miami successful the 2020 Finals, Nunn was regarded by galore observers arsenic 1 of the Lakers’ champion under-the-radar signings. He’s tiny but gritty, a subordinate who is not the maestro of immoderate 1 discipline, but 1 who tin cut, sprout and grip the shot reasonably well. He’ll person to probe his versatility, due to the fact that galore of his teammates bash bring 1 precise bully accomplishment to the table.

AUSTIN REAVES, G, 6-5, 197, Oklahoma, 23

No 1 has seen his illustration turn this preseason arsenic rapidly arsenic Reaves, who inherited much minutes aft a spate of injuries. The Arkansas autochthonal has a janky game, but helium tin sprout and knows wherever to beryllium connected the level alongside the superstars. It’s astir apt excessively aboriginal for the skinny rookie to gain a existent role, but he’ll apt spot the tribunal successful spurts this season.

RAJON RONDO, G, 6-1, 180, Kentucky, 35

A chemistry acceptable to the core, Rondo has cult leader presumption for his relation connected the 2020 title team. Every regular season, he’s fixed origin to deliberation his NBA days person passed. He’s a liability connected defence and a so-so shooter. On this Lakers team, he’s an exigency guard, but you ne'er tin number retired “Playoff Rondo” erstwhile the postseason begins.

RUSSELL WESTBROOK, G, 6-3, 200, UCLA, 32

The Lakers stake large connected endowment this summer, bringing successful a erstwhile league MVP who is making his 4th halt successful arsenic galore seasons. Westbrook brings energy, tenacity and all-world passing ability, but helium besides shoots inconsistently and loses absorption connected defense. The Lakers look intent connected making him an off-ball limb if they can, and gathering subject connected defence that he’s ne'er had before. Will it work? Is Russ consenting to bash things the Laker mode alternatively than his own?

*two-way declaration subordinate