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Los Angeles Lakers: Starting lineup locks, fringe, and potential break-ins

By Josh Cornelissen

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 08: LeBron James #23 and Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrate a basket during a 112-103 win over the LA Clippers at Staples Center on March 08, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. 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. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 08: LeBron James #23 and Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrate a basket during a 112-103 win over the LA Clippers at Staples Center on March 08, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. 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. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images /

Locks for the starting lineup

LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

LeBron James has played in 1,265 regular season games and started 1,264 of them; there may not be a more locked-in starter across the entire league. Championship contenders, All-Star games, the Olympics — if he is playing, he is starting. Despite turning 36 on the second-to-last day of December, he has given no signs of slowing down.

He will be flanked by Anthony Davis, who just inked a max contract to stay with the organization, for the foreseeable future. Last season Davis led the team in points, rebounds, steals and blocks per game. Whenever James begins to decline as a truly elite star, Davis is there to pick up some of the superstar slack for this team.

The third and final lock for the starting lineup is guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. He likewise signed a new contract this offseason to remain with the team, and with the departures of Danny Green and Avery Bradley his retention was a must for the Lakers. He fills a necessary role as a floor-spacer who can attack closeouts on offense, and a reasonably sound wing defender on the other end.

Last season Caldwell-Pope was inconsistent, but in the end he was third on the team in minutes per game despite having the sixth-fewest starts. Even with Green and Bradley on the team he was a crucial piece, and his role will only increase with their departure. Especially with the other two starting slots up-in-the-air, Caldwell-Pope’s spot is a lock.

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