The Los Angeles Lakers have filled out most of their roster after the first two waves of free agency. What does their depth chart look like now?
The Los Angeles Lakers have made a lot of moves to fill out the team's depth. The Lakers added a lot of wing depth and have added an interesting addition to their point guard spot in Gabe Vincent, who most recently played for the Miami Heat, helping them win an Eastern Conference Championship.
Los Angeles already has one player that they have not re-signed but will most likely keep. That player is Austin Reaves, who is a restricted free agent. Reaves is currently waiting for a team to offer a deal that the Lakers will most likely match. Still, even though Reaves is unsigned the Lakers have filled out most of their roster.
Lakers starting lineup and depth chart, updated after free agency
Here is how the Lakers starting lineup shakes out after the initial flurry of free agency moves:
- PG: Gabe Vincent
- SG: Austin Reaves (RFA, not yet official)
- SF: Lebron James
- PF: Rui Hachimura
- C: Anthony Davis
The bench includes Jarred Vanderbilt, Cam Reddish, Taurean Prince, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Jaxson Hayes and Max Christie.
If the Lakers are able to stay healthy, they are looking like one of the best teams in the league. The point guard rotation for the team is abnormal. The Lakers decided to sign Gabe Vincent, who is a starting-level point guard who ended up having an amazing postseason for the Heat.
The question is whether or not that postseason performance for Vincent was a one-hit-wonder. Still, Vincent is a player who can cut to the basket and gets buckets. Unless Vincent flashes a new part of his game, Vincent will not be the secondary creator that this team is missing.
They have Jalen Hood-Schifino who could end up being that creator for the team. The rest of this bench is very good. Having players on the Lakers bench like Jarred Vanderbilt, Cam Reddish, and Taurean Prince makes this part of the bench one of the best in the league.
Jaxson Hayes had the worst seasons of his career last season. He ended up going from averaging nearly 10 points per game and 5 rebounds per game to 5.0 points per game and 2.8 rebounds per game this season.
He used to be a solid center who is a secondary offensive option and rebounder. If he is able to replicate the level of play that he has achieved in the past, he will end up being a very solid backup center for the Lakers.