Los Angeles Lakers: 3 candidates for a breakout season in 2018-19

3. Josh Hart

The second-year guard gets the nod over fellow sophomore Kyle Kuzma because Kuz already had something of a breakout season during his rookie campaign. Yes, there’s no doubt he will improve this season, but he led the Lakers with in field goal attempts (13.5 per game) and was one of the two most consistent players last year along with the departed Julius Randle.

Josh Hart, on the other hand, was not a major part of the rotation, averaging 6.0 field goal attempts and 23.2 minutes per game. He had some flashes in the final games when his scoring load increased, and those moments of positive play carried into the summer as he was named NBA Summer League’s Most Valuable Player.

Hart may not start at the beginning of the season with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in line for first-team minutes, but there’s little doubt Hart will have an increased role. His defense on and off the ball is great, and he can do more than people think on the offensive side of the floor.

He shot 39.6 percent on 2.8 3-point attempts per game, a number that’s impressive in its own right. But he’s more than a 3-and-D player with a quick first step and the ability to finish at the rim with strength. Hart is a perfect role player for this team, and his passing skills add another dimension to this team that KCP simply doesn’t. Expect Hart to continue his summer dominance and be a part of the closing lineup later in the season.