Ranking The Los Angeles Lakers’ 5 Best Players Right Now

3. SF Luol Deng

Despite his 31 years of age, Luol Deng is still a force to be reckoned with. Although he tallied some of his lowest totals since his rookie season, the veteran forward was a productive part of the Miami Heat a season ago. So what does he bring to the table for the Lakers?

Well, a lot for a declining, injury-prone player.

First, Deng is a tough, versatile asset for Los Angeles who is expected to play at small and power forward this year. His 12 years of NBA experience give the Lakers a reliable veteran presence who can help guide Ingram down his path to stardom.

Second, he’s still capable of being a quality contributor. As we saw a season ago, Deng proved to be a trustworthy part of the Heat’s frontcourt, averaging 12.3 points, 6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game while connecting on 45.5 percent of his field goals. Assuming he can stay healthy, Deng should see similar production for the Lakers.

Deng’s durability will be an issue, as he’s already battling a bruised knee (via Lakers.com) that kept him out of some early preseason action. As long as he avoids extended visits to the trainer’s table, he should play an integral role in Los Angeles in 2016-17.