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

Break-in candidates for the starting lineup

Alex Caruso, Kyle Kuzma, Markieff Morris, Talen-Horton Tucker

It is exceedingly likely that the five starters will come from the seven players listed already, but that is no lock. The beauty of having versatile stars such as LeBron James and Anthony Davis is that the other starters can be of almost any variation. The Lakers don’t have to start a traditional center, or a point guard, if they don’t want to. That gives them the option of rewarding bench players who ball out with a larger role.

The top candidate for breaking into the starting lineup is Alex Caruso. A fan-favorite, the athletic guard fits naturally playing off of James. He proved himself last season to the point that he appeared in every postseason game, even playing in crunch time during the NBA Finals. He finished fifth on the team in postseason minutes. If Dennis Schröder is injured or deemed not a great fit, the Lakers could easily use Caruso as the second guard alongside Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

The other primary move the Lakers could make is to slide Davis to the 5, opening up room at power forward. Kyle Kuzma is the last remaining piece of the core this team developed prior to adding James, and has certainly had his moments amidst inconsistency and slowed growth. If he can take a step forward, the team could find ways to start him either for production or showing him off for a trade.

Similarly, Markieff Morris could find his way into the starting lineup as a combo forward who can even play some minutes at center in a pinch. He has a solid pedigree as a productive player, and seemed to earn the trust of head coach Frank Vogel after joining the team late in the season.

The final candidate to break into the Los Angeles Lakers starting lineup is a longshot, but one worth mentioning. Former Iowa State Cyclone Talen-Horton Tucker is blessed with a gargantuan wingspan, and he could be the perfect combination of on-ball creation, off-ball shooting and wing defense this team most wants. If his development can take a leap forward, he has the blurred outline of a player who would be a perfect fit for the starting lineup.

The starting lineup at the beginning of the season will almost certainly change over time, due to injuries or development. James and Davis are likely to rest more this year, with a condensed schedule and such a fast turnaround from the NBA Finals. Every player on the roster will have a chance to contribute to this team, and a lucky few will get to start on the league’s championship favorite.