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Los Angeles Lakers: Combining youth and experience to create a solid bench

By Quentin Haynes

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 25: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.Ê (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 25: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.Ê (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers are getting a good amount of production from their bench – a bench that includes two experienced players and two rookies.

For all the talk about the Los Angeles Lakers‘ young players and starting five, it’s been the bench that has been the most intriguing.

It’s a unit that includes two of Los Angeles’ more experienced players and one exciting rookie. While they aren’t leading the league in any bench statistic, the trio of Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle and rookie Kyle Kuzma have offered Los Angeles and head coach Luke Walton some options when making substitutions.

So far, Clarkson has been the lead scoring option off the bench, ranking second on the team with 16.8 points per game. That led Lakers players before the return of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope from suspension. His ability to penetrate and get to the basket is a valuable asset to a team that doesn’t have many players on the roster who can emulate that skill.

Add his solid start shooting the ball — 47 percent from 3-point range — and Clarkson has the makings of a solid role player and a possible sixth man of the year candidate.

Over the last two seasons, there’s been a desire to make Clarkson something he isn’t. Clarkson, despite his ability to handle the ball, is not a point guard. It creates a bit of issue, as he’s not strong enough to guard opposing 2-guards, while not being able to fully run the show as a point guard — ultimately creating questions about whether the Lakers should keep him at all.

However, he’s been able to thrive a bit more in a “0” guard role. Alongside Lonzo Ball, you worry about the defense, but it allows Clarkson to fully thrive as an offensive player, getting him off the ball. Place him next to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and KCP covers him on defense, while offering another ball-handler for him to work with.

There are still questions about whether he fits long-term with Los Angeles’ plan, but so far, he’s showing his offensive ability in this specific role.

The most intriguing bench piece for Los Angeles is Julius Randle. After another solid season, few could foresee Randle coming off the bench this upcoming season, but to enter the season, that’s been the case. The former No. 7 overall pick has been fine — 9.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game on 64 percent shooting — but it remains interesting that a player in the midst of his contract year assumed this role, especially one on a team with large expectations this upcoming offseason.

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    • Much like Clarkson, this may be Randle’s best role. Starting exposed Randle’s weaknesses and ultimately tanked his value. Randle can defend on the perimeter at times, but not enough to cover his overall defensive weaknesses as a big man. In his previous two seasons, he shot under 50 percent from the floor and was blocked 10 percent of the time last season.

    It’ll be curious to see Randle’s value this upcoming offseason. He’s a good passer and he can function as a roll man in the pick-and-roll, but he can’t shoot the ball from outside 15 feet, he’s not a rim protector and operates as a one-position player in a league where versatility is king. Some players get paid regardless, some don’t. It’ll be curious to see which side Randle falls on.

    He’s already stated he wants to return, but time will tell whether he gets that chance.

    The last big piece to Los Angeles’ bench is Kyle Kuzma, who, after taking the league by storm in NBA Summer League and preseason play, is adjusting to better opponents and a more specific role. He’s still flashing some of the traits that made him an exciting rookie — good athleticism, ability to defend multiple positions — but the 3-ball has averaged out.

    Shooting 25 percent from 3 won’t get it done, but Kuzma was always a project in the shooting development.

    Ultimately, I envision Kuzma as a starter for the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half of the season. He’s the type of athlete you want alongside Lonzo Ball in transition. Not to mention, he’s a better option to go alongside Brook Lopez for spacing. Kuzma’s insertion into the lineup makes the 1-4 pick-and-roll a bit more dangerous compared to Larry Nance Jr., even though they function on the same plane.

    The Los Angeles Lakers have a couple of good bench pieces with experience and they’re not done. Ultimately, I envision rookie guard Josh Hart getting some more playing time as the season progresses as well. His combination of shooting and secondary skills should get him on the floor more.

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    That four-man combination isn’t a world beater, but it provides Walton with four players who do some different things. Clarkson provides all of the offense, Randle can bang down low and serve as the roll man on offense, and Kuzma and Hart can provide youth and versatility. It’s a solid combination that would only get better in time as Hart and Kuzma continue their development.

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