Lakers star LeBron James. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
After the Russell Westbrook trade to Lakers, what does the lineup in Los Angeles look like and where are the remaining holes on the roster?
Who needs the NBA Draft when you can have a giant trade
The Lakers saw basketball’s biggest offseason night and promptly waved it off. Sure, the night still belongs to the rookies realizing their dreams, but the future is now for the Lakers. None of the players coming into the league on draft night will factor much into the plans the Lakers set forth in an effort to win another title with LeBron James.
Los Angeles made a move to land Russell Westbrook from the Wizards and now their offseason can truly begin.
With Russ, the Lakers land the point guard they desperately need. Moreover, the trade creates ultimate chaos in the NBA which is perhaps its greatest contribution.
Russ to Lakers: Updated lineups after Russell Westbrook trade to Lakers
After trading for Westbrook, the Lakers may finally have the structure in place to build another championship roster. There are still moves that can be made, but the Lakers are entering free agency with this starting lineup:
PG: Russell Westbrook
SG: Wesley Matthews
SF: LeBron James
PF: Anthony Davis
C: Andre Drummond
Trading Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Wizards means the Lakers need to try and find a shooting guard to fill the starting role, unless Wes Matthews is really the answer (he’s not).
This upcoming season could also be a big one for fan-favorite Talen Horton-Tucker, who now jumps way up the depth chart and could be in line for that shooting guard role if it fits whatever strategy the Lakers are piecing together.