Predicting Los Angeles Lakers' 2018-19 starting lineup with LeBron James
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It's anyone's guess what the Los Angeles Lakers' starting lineup will look like in 2018-19, but we're starting to get a good idea of which players could be coming to town.
We all knew big changes were coming for the Los Angeles Lakers when Magic Johnson was handed the keys. It began a new era for this franchise — one that could redefine what the Lakers have recently become. And yet, there's still no telling what the future holds.
That doesn't mean we can't try to figure it out, though. The problem is that there doesn't appear to be much change coming in the near future. With little cap flexibility and only so many intriguing options available this offseason, the Lakers could simply choose to stand pat and play the waiting game.
If that is the case, it could actually work out in their favor. Many of the team's young, budding stars still need time to develop. Realistically, this roster isn't quite ready to start making any serious runs at the postseason. However, another year of coaching and maturation, along with some key additions next offseason, could put this team in position to win.
The future got even more interesting this week with the report that LeBron James would consider coming to Los Angeles next offseason (via The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor). It's further proof that big-name free agents are starting to warm up to the idea of joining the Lakers after several years of disinterest.
So let's pretend for a second that James does decide to take his talents to Los Angeles. If that were the case, what would the rest of the Lakers' starting lineup look like in 2018-19? Would it be enough to return the Purple and Gold to relevance after years of ineptitude? No one knows for sure, but bringing the King to Hollywood would be a great start.
Lonzo Ball
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Point Guard: Lonzo Ball
Despite all of the rumors and speculation, this one just makes too much sense. No matter how much of a pain LaVar Ball can be, it's going to be too difficult for the Lakers to pass on a local legend like Lonzo Ball at No. 2 in the 2017 NBA Draft.
D'Angelo Russell is a promising point guard, but Los Angeles could use a true facilitator. Russell is more of a scorer and budding sharpshooter, whereas Ball is pure passer who also happens to be pretty good at putting the ball in the basket — even with that unorthodox shooting style of his.
I'm not entirely convinced he's a superstar in the making, though. Despite that, he seems like he'd be a terrific addition to this Lakers lineup. He's a true point guard who can bring out the best in the players around him while also adding a little flare on the offensive side. His defense, though, will need work, and I'd like to see him play with more toughness and tenacity.
When all is said and done, Ball should be wearing purple and gold. It's going to be too difficult for Magic, Rob Pelinka and Luke Walton to pass on the prolific point guard on draft night. When they inevitably call his name, Ball will take over at the 1-spot while giving Los Angeles yet another outstanding young asset to mold.
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Shooting Guard: D'Angelo Russell
If Ball is manning the point, what happens with D'Angelo Russell? There's been speculation he could be traded to bring more assets aboard, but I don't believe that will be the case. Instead, Jordan Clarkson seems like the more likely trade candidate.
Either way, Russell should be a great fit for the shooting guard spot in 2018-19. As we saw last season, he's more than capable of putting up big points and nailing clutch shots. With Ball in the mix, he'll get more opportunities to move off the ball and use that athleticism to get open looks.
Just because he's no longer at point guard doesn't mean Russell isn't a rising star for the Lakers. The move would solely be an opportunity for the Lakers to keep their best players on the floor. He's still arguably the team's top young prospect, and showed last season that he's more than capable of taking over games.
While he wouldn't necessarily need to with the other players on this list, it's a great asset to have.
Russell is still a huge long-term building block for the Lakers. The best part is, at 21 years old, there's still a lot of room for growth with the former No. 2 overall selection. I don't think Magic is quite ready to let all of that potential go.
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Small Forward: Paul George
We all know this is going to happen, right?
Well it's obviously no guarantee at this moment, but signs continue to point unmistakably in that direction. Not only has Paul George expressed interest in signing with the Lakers time and time again, but other potential suitors are losing interest as well. Teams simply don't want to trade for him out of fear he'll sign with Los Angeles in 2018.
That makes me all the more confident in predicting that George will be a part of this lineup in 2018-19. He's an L.A.-area native, and one who would love to be a part of bringing the Lakers back to prominence. The only hurdle now is waiting until next offseason.
When that time comes, though, you better believe the Lakers will do whatever they need to do to sign the Indiana Pacers' star forward. I'm sure there will be some teams who come out of the woodwork to pitch him, but the Lakers have a huge advantage over anyone who dares enter the race.
By signing George, the Lakers get a proven superstar and one of the best two-way players in the game. He should immediately give this team a huge boost on both ends, turning it into an immediate contender for a playoff spot.
George's signing will also help the Lakers secure the next man on this list.
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Power Forward: LeBron James
Honestly, I never really thought this was an option. However, as O'Connor pointed out this week, the possibility of James joining the Lakers is much higher than any of us would have guessed. In fact, it makes a lot of sense based on how O'Connor laid it out.
That's the main reason I wanted to examine how Los Angeles' starting lineup could look when that time rolls around.
With James and George in the mix, this Lakers team suddenly gets dangerous. We all know about their young core of exciting prospects, but this group is lacking a superstar or two. With the potential to sign the two All-Stars next offseason, though, things are starting to look up for one of the NBA's most storied franchises.
In this scenario, I think James fits best as a power forward in the Lakers' starting lineup. He's proven time and time again that he has the strength, athleticism and cunning to excel in the paint. Plus, he's bigger and stronger than George and has the versatility to fill just about every position.
Either way, the King coming to L.A. would be a dream come true for Lakers fans. It would also make Jeanie Buss' decision to hand the keys to Magic all the more genius. If Los Angeles is going to turn this thing around overnight, finding a way to bring LeBron out west would be an ideal way to do it.
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Center: Ivica Zubac
To round out the 2018-19 starting lineup, we've got one of the most intriguing young talents on this current Lakers roster.
When Los Angeles landed Ivica Zubac with the No. 32 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, I don't think anyone knew what to expect. The Croatian big man was seen as a huge sleeper with high upside, but no clear indication of when he'd be able to reach his potential. Well, it didn't take long for the Lakers to see the type of impact he can have.
As a rookie, Zubac came on slowly, spending a majority of the season's first half in the D-League. Then, after impressing with the D-Fenders and during practices, he got the opportunity to see more minutes with the Lakers. Before long, he had all of Laker Nation talking about him as the franchise's next great big man.
Zubac will spend this next season continuing to develop and learn. The future already appears blindingly bright for the youngster, but he's still got a ways to go before he reaches the heights many expect for him. When that time comes, though, it's going to be glorious.
The Lakers have done a great job of finding hidden gems during the draft, and Zubac is no exception. With the potential he flashed as a rookie, there's no telling how high he'll go before he finally hits his ceiling. Having stars like James and George around him will only help hasten the process.
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