Grading Every NBA Team’s Offseason so Far

Grading Every NBA Team's Offseason so Farhttps://t.co/7P1vUwSzeg via @BleacherReport

— LakerTom (@LakerTom) November 27, 2020

Los Angeles Lakers: A

Notable Additions: Montrezl Harrell, Wesley Matthews, Dennis Schroder, Marc Gasol

Notable Subtractions: Danny Green, Rajon Rondo, JaVale McGee, Avery Bradley, Dwight Howard

Notable Re-signings: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Markieff Morris

I’m not a huge fan of the Harrell signing because a team as attractive to free agents as the Los Angeles Lakers should have been able to find a more sensible fit with the full MLE. Harrell will keep opposing teams from erasing deficits whenever LeBron James sits, but it remains difficult to imagine him playing a significant role in the games that matter most.

That’s when Anthony Davis mans the 5, and the Lakers spread the floor to devastating effect.

Still, there’s a case to be made that Harrell will be better than expected if he spends more time at the 4. At least as far as the regular season goes, he’ll be an asset.

Additional help from Wesley Matthews, Dennis Schroder and Marc Gasol keeps the Lakers firmly atop the league’s hierarchy. Those three will all contribute to the rotation, with Schroder adding second-unit scoring L.A. lacked and Gasol bringing a new facilitating dimension to the center spot. He and James are going to conduct symphonies on offense, and though he’s aging, Gasol remains one of the sturdiest low-post defenders in the league. You need that type of player when you share a conference with Nikola Jokic.

The champs got better in virtually every facet. So much for post-title attrition.