The Los Angeles Lakers significantly reshaped their championship roster this offseason, but where does the new starting five rank amongst each other?
After hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy for the 2019-20 season, the Los Angeles Lakers wasted no time getting busy retooling the roster in hopes of repeating as NBA champions next season.
The team kicked off the offseason by trading Danny Green and their first-round pick in the 2020 NBA Draft to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Dennis Schröder. LA soon added a collection of talent in free agency, such as swingman Wesley Matthews, reigning Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell, and former NBA champion Marc Gasol.
As the dust settled, LA’s solid offseason moves labeled them the title favorites for next season by a reasonable margin. Before they get the chance to defend their title, however, the Lakers will have to piece together an adequate starting five to start the season. While that surely might not be challenging given their overflowing amount of talent, here is a ranking of the Los Angeles Lakers’ projected starting five ahead of the 2020-21 season.
5. Shooting guard – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope played a pivotal part in the Los Angeles Lakers’ title run this season, and his efforts did not go unnoticed, as he earned himself a three-year extension worth $40 million. The guard provided a valuable 3-and-D presence, having shot a career-best 38.5 percent from behind the arc in 2019-20. Pope will reclaim his spot in the starting lineup, and his play on both ends of the court will be crucial for next season.