Los Angeles Lakers lineup preview part 2: Tailor offense around Julius Randle

Final Thoughts

Overall, this group may not see much action together, but I think it’d be an exciting set to see on the floor. The collective length and athleticism on the wings would disrupt opponents and lead to transition opportunities for a unit that would struggle to score in the half court setting. This is why pairing Clarkson with KCP and Brewer makes sense to me.

We know Clarkson is going to try and provide instant offense when he’s on the floor, for better or worse, so why not surround him with players that defend like crazy and have been spot-up shooters up to this point in their careers?

I’m putting a lot of pressure on Julius Randle by handing him the keys to an NBA offense as a big man in just his third season. But there’s reason to believe he will take another step forward.

His assist totals doubled to 3.6 a game last year on top of improving his field goal percentage and points per game. His summer workout videos show a smooth stroke coming together from beyond the arc, as well. Adding a consistent jumper from midrange and/or the 3-point line would make him a dangerous offensive player.

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We will see if Luke Walton chooses to use a lineup with such little rim protection, however. With shots at the rim on the rise in a league going smaller, having at least one rim protector who can switch onto smaller players is needed to have a playable defense. If Randle or even Kuzma can show some signs of protecting the paint, this lineup becomes an interesting blend of starters and role players for coach Walton to use.