Who should be the fifth starter for the Los Angeles Lakers?
Per Jovan Buha of The Athletic, Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham stated that although the team knows who the fifth starter should be alongside D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, they are keeping quiet on that information for the time being.
The Lakers had a productive summer, re-signing most of their key contributors from last season and adding solid rotation players in Gabe Vincent and Taurean Prince. This allows the team to go in a variety of directions when it comes to deciding who should be the fifth starter.
If the team is interested in more perimeter shooting to space the floor for James and Davis without sacrificing too much on defense, Prince might be the player best suited for the role. Prince is a career 41.5 percent three-point shooter and capable enough on the defensive end not to be a liability.
The Lakers can also look into going big by slotting in Rui Hachimura at the power forward spot. Hachimura's 6-foot-8, 230-pound frame allows him to match up with other bigs to take some of the pressure off James and Davis. His polished mid-range scoring ability means he can also contribute effectively on both ends of the floor.
If setting the tone defensively from the jump is the Lakers' strategy, starting forward Jarred Vanderbilt would be the best move. Vanderbilt already has experience as the fifth starter from last season and demonstrated the value he brings to the court in the form of defensive tenacity and relentless energy. His offense leaves a lot to be desired, but given the potent offense already on the floor with Russell, Reaves, James and Davis, the team should be able to get away with Vanderbilt's offensive shortcomings.
The Lakers open the preseason this Saturday against the Golden State Warriors and Ham has already stated that he plans to experiment with different lineups over the course of the game. James is also expected to sit out this contest, which means we still won't get a clear picture as to the team's plans at fifth starter.
Regardless of who the Lakers choose for their final starter, the team has a bevy of options to choose from, which is a credit to both the versatility of the other four starters and the roster that general manager Rob Pelinka has assembled.
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