It seems unfair to the rest of the NBA that the 10–4 Lakers, 4th in the West and 5th in the league right now, can now add LeBron James, the ultimate jack-of-all-trades basketball superstar, to their already impressive roster.
Rob Pelinka said at the start of the season that he’d wait until 20 to 25 games to see what the team needs before making decisions about possible trades. Now 14 games into the season, the Lakers’ needs have still not changed. Despite a strong overachieving start, to win a championship, the Lakers still need a 3&D starting small forward who can shut down high powered wing scorers and a shot blocking backup center who can protect the rim.
When ready, JJ Redick should start LeBron James and move Rui Hachimura to the bench for more firepower. The Lakers’ starting lineup would then be Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Marcus Smart, LeBron James, Deandre Ayton.
The Lakers bench would be Gabe Vincent, Dalton Knecht, Jake LaRavia, Rui Hachimura, Maxi Kleber with Adou Thiero pushing for minutes. Jarred Vanderbilt, Bronny James, and Jaxson Hayes would be outside the rotation.
The one question the Lakers hope to answer in the next 9 games before December 15th is whether LeBron, in short bursts, could be the lockdown wing defender and backup shot blocking center they desperately need.
As LeBron himself said, he has no problem doing whatever the Lakers need from him to help the team win, whether it be spacing the floor, cutting back door, defending at point-of-attack, or protecting the rim.
LeBron could transform Lakers into a championship team by empowering Luka and Austin’s playmaking, helping Deandre by spacing the floor and protecting the rim, and turbo-charging the bench with Austin and Rui.
LEBRON ‘OFF-BALL’ EMPOWERS LUKA & AUSTIN ‘ON-BALL’
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In the NFL, great quarterbacks sometimes need great receivers to win. The same is true in the NBA. JJ Redick believes LeBron’s all-world off-the-ball skills could be what unleashes the on-ball wizardry of Luka and Austin.
Unlike last season when the Lakers’ three stars often appeared to be taking turns on offense, JJ Redick has been staggering Luka and Austin so one of their elite point guards is always on the court for 48 minutes of every game.
That rotation strategy as well as their ‘next-man-up’ mentality have been why the Lakers’ have the fifth best record in the league despite posting average offensive rating (#17), defensive rating (#17), and net rating (#16).
LeBron missing the first 14 games of the year gave Austin the opportunity to take his game to another level and the Luka and Austin pairing the opportunity to show they can be a championship caliber backcourt.
Despite the chaotic start, staggering Doncic and Reaves has given Redick his championship blueprint. Create an unstoppable synergy between LeBron’s off-ball GOAT skillset and Luka’s and Austin’s super playmaking.
Keeping the ball in Luka’s and Austin’s hands while LeBron plays almost exclusively off the ball is the perfect move to transform the Lakers from a finesse to a power team. LeBron James will be unstoppable off the ball.
Imagine James cutting back door, crashing the offensive boards, setting picks for Luka and Austin, then rolling to the basket where he can dunk, throw a lob for Deandre, or fire a pass to the corner for an open three.
LeBron James’ superstar ‘off-ball’ skills and talent could empower Luka Doncic’s and Austin Reaves’ on-ball magic and turn the Los Angeles Lakers into a legitimate contender for the NBA championship this season.
LEBRON AT POWER FORWARD HELPS DEANDRE AT CENTER
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Replacing Rui Hachimura with LeBron James would transform the Lakers’ starting lineup from a mostly finesse team into more of a power team that attempts to win by ratcheting up the physicality at both ends of the court.
While offense-first Rui Hachimura is a better power forward than small forward, he’s not the perfect match front court next to offense-first Deandre Ayton since he cannot stretch the floor or protect the rim.
James replacing Hachimura would immediately upgrade the Lakers’ starting lineups’ size, athleticism, physicality, and toughness. Meanwhile, Rui gets a bigger role and the Lakers’ bench gets needed firepower.
LeBron is actually the perfect power forward to complement Deandre Ayton, who’s played great for the Lakers but lacks the ability to protect the rim and stretch the floor, which are skillsets needed to complement Luka.
Remember the version of LeBron we’re going to see is an off-ball monster. Giving point guards Luka and Austin the lethal 100% off-ball version of LeBron would be like giving your quarterback an all-world wide receiver.
Adding James to the front court and keeping Smart in the backcourt gives the Lakers’ starting lineup two elite defenders for better starting balance and versatility while moving Rui to the bench gives them needed scoring.
For now, Lakers still need to start Marcus Smart. They need a blockbuster trade for an elite 3&D small forward like Andrew Wiggins or Dillon Brooks, who would then replace the smaller Marcus Smart in the starting lineup.
LeBron James starting at power forward will make Deandre Ayton a better center and give the Lakers a legitimate championship caliber front court that can run the pick-and-roll, stretch the floor, and protect the rim.
AUSTIN ‘ON-BALL’ & RUI ‘OFF-BALL’ TURBOCHARGE BENCH
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Right now, the Lakers’ bench ranks dead last in the league averaging just 24.2 points per game. Adding Rui Hachimura to the bench would instantly raise the team’s bench points to 40 points per game and a top10 rank.
Just like LeBron James will be the primary ‘off-ball’ target for Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves in the starting lineup, Rui Hachimura will now become the primary ‘off-ball’ target off the bench for Austin Reaves to optimize.
Moving Hachimura to the bench will be a challenge but Rui loves the Lakers and they need his elite 3-point and midrange shooting off bench. Assuming Rui embraces his role, give him more shots and his extension.
Since the Lakers are staggering Doncic and Reaves, it will mostly be Austin who will be paired with Rui off the bench. As a starter, Rui would have clearly been the fifth option after Luka, Austin, LeBron, and Deandre.
Coming off the bench, Rui will be the second option after Luka or Austin defended by a bench player from the opposing team. He should be able to get more and better touches and shots and be a top 6MOY candidate.
In addition to adding Rui Hachimura, the Lakers’ bench is finally getting healthy with Maxi Kleber and Adou Thiero already back from injury and Gabe Vincent close to returning. Rotation changes are surely coming.
Right now, I like a bench of Gabe Vincent, Dalton Knecht, Jake LaRavia, Rui Hachimura, and Maxi Kleber with Adou Thiero pushing for minutes and Bronny James, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Jaxson Hayes seeing few minutes.
LeBron James returning from injury also transform the Lakers into a championship team by replacing Rui Hachimura in the starting lineup and sending him to the bench where he will get more touches and points.
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