Here are our player scouting reports and analysis for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Projected starters
D'Angelo Russell
Position: Guard
Experience: Rookie
2015 draft profile
Scouting report
+ Oversized playmaking point guard
+ Excelled at pick and roll at Ohio State; good perimeter shooter
+ Not an explosive athlete, will need to lean heavily on size advantage
Analysis
The second overall pick in the 2015 draft, Russell has a steep learning curve ahead of him. He's blessed with tremendous size for a point guard, which allowed him to see over defenses and pick them apart at Ohio State. He was one of the best pick and roll playmakers in college last season, which says a lot for a guy who played on a team that didn't have many consistent shooting threats.
Russell is an OK athlete, but he isn't particularly quick or explosive. That's not much of an issue because of his size and excellent feel, but there's a culture shock that comes from playing against NBA-caliber athletes, and the adjustment period can take a while. In the meantime, Russell has to fight to not lose confidence, which can happen when being overwhelmed by the speed of the game. He's got the IQ to adjust to the athleticism differential and exploit.
Jordan Clarkson
Position: Guard
Experience: 1 year
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Scoring combo guard who saw significant playing time toward end of season
+ Big strong body, wants to get into the paint and finish at the rim; good midrange shooter, but streaky out to 3P range
+ Named to First Team All-Rookie
Analysis
Clarkson really benefited from the season-ending injury to Kobe Bryant, as it afforded him the playing time and touches to develop as a confident lead guard on the floor. The bulk of Clarkson's production came out of the pick and roll, where he would come off screens with an eye on shooting rather than looking to make a play for the roll man.
His 3-point range was streaky, but he had a decided affinity for pulling up for midrange jumpers; with Clarkson's size and strength, he should be getting to the rim and finishing more often (particularly because he finished well in the paint last season). It will be interesting to see Clarkson adjust his role back in light of Bryant's return to the lineup, as well as the addition of Russell and Lou Williams to the Laker backcourt. He'll need to be able to concentrate his productivity into shorter stints, with less touches and a lower usage rate.
Kobe Bryant
Position: Guard
Experience: 19 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Volume scorer in the twilight of Hall of Fame career
+ Expected to see considerable time at the small forward this season
+ Missed 47 games last year with shoulder injury
Analysis
Bryant started last season with what appeared to be a singular focus on moving up in the scoring record books. In that sense, last season can be classified as "mission accomplished," but in the process, Los Angeles incurred lots of losses in the standings and Bryant ultimately suffered a season ending injury in January.
At this stage, he's turned into a parody of himself, with seemingly every field goal attempt coming "against all odds," as Bryant dominates the ball during possessions and often shoots long jumpers against double coverage. He posted the first sub-40 FG% season of his career, and his eFG% was the 11th worst among all players with at least 500 minutes played last season.
Making matters worse is Bryant's seeming unwillingness to embrace a reduced role like other veterans his age have done in recent years (Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to name a few). The insistence on being the focal point of the offense without being a willing facilitator made for a stagnant Lakers offense that seemed geared to getting Bryant as many shot attempts and little else. With the roster upgrades (Russell, Julius Randle recovered from injury, Lou Williams, Roy Hibbert and Brandon Bass), it will be interesting to see how Bryant adjusts his game, and if not, how his new teammates adjust to him.
Julius Randle
Position: Forward
Experience: 1 year
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Undersized but strong, quick forward
+ Wants to attack off the dribble from the elbows, likes to spin back to shoot over right shoulder
+ Injured 15 minutes into NBA debut and missed entire rookie season
Analysis
Randle was the Lakers' first-round pick in 2014 and expected to kickstart the rebuild. That is, until he suffered a broken leg 15 minutes into his first regular-season game, causing him to miss the entire season. The silver lining is he returns to a roster that features less competition at the 4, giving him more of an opportunity to play (and perhaps start).
"He's Lamar Odom in a Zach Randolph body," Bryant told ESPN's Baxter Holmes.
Randle's quickness will allow him to beat bigger defenders off the dribble, but he has a predictable tendency to attack right then spin back left to finish with his natural shooting hand. In college, he got away with overpowering defenders, but going against NBA-caliber players (many of whom will be bigger and stronger), he's going to need to develop a more diverse collection of moves to counteract his size disadvantage. Shooting also is a concern, since he struggles to make perimeter jumpers.
Roy Hibbert
Position: Center
Experience: 7 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Elite defensive big, team defense anchor
+ Wants to contest with verticiality at rim
+ Slow-paced player who struggles at changing ends
Analysis
Once one of the most valuable bigs in the game due to his enormous defensive impact, Hibbert's status took a huge swan dive last season, culminating with his trade to Los Angeles this summer after the Pacers decided that playing up-tempo was a bigger priority. Hibbert is one of the standard bearers when it comes to the art of verticality, contesting shots at the rim without breaking the invisible plane between the offensive player and the defender. Hibbert's presence not only leads to lower opponent FG% at the rim, but also frequently discourages them from even attempting shots in his vicinity, which might be the greatest defensive compliment. While he is not a good defensive rebounder, Hibbert does a good job of taking up space and allowing others to receive the credit for the boards.
That said, Hibbert is a fairly immobile halfcourt player, and much of Indiana's defensive schemes were designed to minimize time spent away from the paint, which led to a lot of sagging on pick-and-roll coverages. Indiana had the wing athletes to cover ground on the perimeter and pick up Hibbert's slack there (while he reciprocated in the paint), but the Lakers don't boast the same (at least on paper). Further, his already subpar offensive abilities tend to fluctuate in productivity when his confidence takes a hit, which makes playing alongside the demanding Bryant and for an old-school coach like Byron Scott an interesting proposition.
Reserves
Lou Williams
Position: Guard
Experience: 10 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Volume scorer off the bench
+ Explosive first step but likes to pull up for midrange
+ Named Sixth Man of the Year last season
Analysis
Williams isn't shy about getting shots up, as he hoisted almost 17 FGAs per 36 minutes last year en route to a gaudy 27 percent usage rate. He likes coming off picks and looks to pull up from midrange, where he was very effective, especially in the in-between game. Part of that affinity for the midrange shot stems from his relative ineffectiveness at the rim, where Williams' diminutive size and frame make it difficult for him to convert consistently in the paint, forcing him to resort to runners and floaters from the non-restricted area paint.
In Los Angeles, he adds scoring punch to the Lakers' bench, but he's one of several perimeter players who will demand shots and touches, so it will be on head coach Byron Scott to find the right lineup combinations to ensure they don't overload with too many shot-hungry players.
Brandon Bass
Position: Forward
Experience: 10 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Undersized pick-and-pop big
+ Very good midrange shooter
+ Despite athleticism, poor defensive rebounder
Analysis
Despite being on the shorter side, Bass is a very good athlete who is capable of rolling hard and finishing at the rim. His stocky frame makes for solid screen setting for teammates. Still, he has a tendency to hang around 15 feet and settle for the midrange jumper, at which he's pretty effective. He'll also crash the offensive boards, and he was one of the best at offensive putbacks in the league, according to Synergy Sports (1.35 points per possession).
Defensively, he's traditionally struggled in more complex schemes, but it will be interesting to see how he pairs with Hibbert, another poor defensive rebounder.
Nick Young
Position: Guard
Experience: 8 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Volume scorer with terrible shot selection
+ Very good athlete who can convert on high-degree-of-difficulty shots
+ Missed 40 games with fractured kneecap
Analysis
Over the last two season, Young has represented a bright spot of comic relief and positivity during possibly the toughest two-season stretch in franchise history. His antics and sense of humor distract from the moribund state of Lakers basketball, but his game on the court has been more representative of the Lakers' plight.
Young hoists shots like there's no tomorrow, attempting almost 25 shots per 100 possessions, While his 3-point percentage was a very solid 37 percent. Amazingly, Young shot worse on his 2-point field goals, something that usually only happens with 3-point specialists, not high-usage shot creators. Over the last few seasons, the Lakers have had to turn to Young out of necessity, but with the additions on the perimeter, there's a good chance Young could have to fight for minutes for the first time as a Laker.
Marcelinho Huertas
Position: Guard
Experience: Rookie
Player profile
Scouting report
+ Slow, unathletic point guard who excels in pick and roll
+ Has arsenal of midrange floaters and runners
+ First season in NBA after 11 years playing in Europe
Analysis
The Brazilian point guard has flirted with making the jump to the NBA in the past, and so it's odd that he'd choose now to come over on a non-guaranteed, make-good contract offer. One of the best playmakers in Europe, Huertas is a tremendous pick and roll player, with excellent vision coming off the screen and a wide variety of pass deliveries.
A good shooter off the dribble, Huertas has a bag full of midrange tricks, including one-legged runners and tear drops that allow him to remain a threat without making it all the way to the rim. That's important for him, because he is almost comically unathletic. His IQ and skill level allow him to use it as an advantage on the offensive end, but defensively he's an enormous liability.
Tarik Black
Position: Center
Experience: 1 year
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Solid backup big who will use size and strength to carve out space under basket
+ Good screen setter
+ Excellent rebounder
Analysis
Black had a great rookie season for an undrafted player who was at one point a transfer student in college. He's a big body who will set solid screens and roll hard to the front of the rim to catch and finish. Black is a voracious rebounder, particularly on the offensive end, and saw 20 percent of his offense come from putbacks. Defensively, he's a sound defender who will play rotational position defense and verticality rather than over-the-top shot blocking.
Ryan Kelly
Position: Forward
Experience: 2 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Pick and pop big with 3-point range
+ Best spacing big on the roster
+ Poor rebounder
Analysis
Something of a one-trick pony, Kelly's value comes as the best stretch big option on the roster, but that's not saying much for his actual ability. At roughly 34 percent career in 3-point shooting, Kelly is decent but hardly a threatening enough option for defenses to stay attached. Outside of his shooting, he doesn't really offer much in terms of rebounding or other traits.
Larry Nance, Jr.
Position: Forward
Experience: Rookie
2015 draft profile
Scouting report
+ Long, skilled athlete
+ Streaky shooter
Analysis
Nance is an excellent athlete with elite length who likes to get up and down the floor. He uses his physical gifts to get to the basket and finish at an extremely high rate (shot over 80 percent at the rim at Wyoming) but is somewhat deliberate and mechanical when forced to create his own shot. Shot a decent clip from the college 3-point line, but developing a consistent jumper is going to be a must for him at the NBA level.
Robert Sacre
Position: Center
Experience: 3 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Third string big who can finish out of pick and rolls
+ Positive energy guy on bench and in locker room
+ Achieved career-high in minutes played
Analysis
Sacre's going to be an NBA player for a while because of two things: his size and personality. As a third string big, he's serviceable as a true 7-footer, but ultimately it's his positivity as an end-of-the-roster guy that allows him to keep his job. He's cracked the 1000 minutes played plateau in each of the last two seasons, but unless something goes horribly wrong, he should never see that benchmark again.
Metta World Peace
Position: Forward
Experience: 15 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Bruising small forward trying to make NBA comeback
+ Spent last season playing in China and Italy
Analysis
If it werent for his previous ties to the Laker organization, World Peace would merely be a camp curio. His game has steadily declined since helping the Lakers to the championship in 2010, and while he's still a physical presence, he's lost a lot of the lateral quickness that made him such a tremendous defender in his heyday. He's suffered from recurring knee issues that have contributed to this decline, and while he shot well from the floor in Italy, it's tough to see him being as effective in the NBA today. The most notable thing he's done this year was work out with Julius Randle, which isn't a bad match due to the similarities in physiques and style of play. Truth be told, World Peace would probably be of more value to the Lakers as a player development coach than as an actual player in this stage of his career, especially considering giving him a roster spot would probably mean taking away a roster spot from a younger talent.
Anthony Brown
Position: Forward
Experience: Rookie
2015 draft profile
Scouting report
+ Long wing shooter
+ Good perimeter defender
+ Good defensive rebounder
Analysis
Brown was the Lakers' second-round pick this year, and brings two much-needed elements to the team: shooting and wing defense. At 6-foot-7, with a 6-11 wingspan, Brown has ideal size to guard multiple positions along the perimeter, and also rebounded the defensive glass well as a senior at Stanford. He also was a career 40 percent shooter from college 3-point line, and should make the adjustment to the longer NBA 3P line with ease. Again, with so many high-usage wings on the team, Brown should be a natural complement in many lineups.
Jabari Brown
Position: Guard
Experience: 1 year
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Volume scoring guard
+ Appeared in 5 games last season for the Lakers
+ Spent most of last season with NBADL affiliate
Analysis
Brown spent most of the season playing for the D-Fenders, and was a dominant scorer on that level. Outside of scoring the ball, Brown brings little else to the table. He's not a good rebounder or defender, and the blinders on him make passing something of a chore. He is what he is -- a high-volume scorer and a good 3-point shooter, but if he's going to fit in with the Lakers he'll have to show the ability to make baskets without having the ball anywhere nearly as frequently.
Robert Upshaw
Position: Center
Experience: Rookie
2015 draft profile
Scouting report
+ Elite shot blocker
+ Excellent rebounder
+ Had several disciplinary issues in college, led to his dismissal
Analysis
Upshaw is a longshot to make the roster on paper, but he brings elements that are hard to find. Although he just played 25 minutes per game last season in college, he averaged a whopping 4.5 blocks per game, which translated to a block percentage of more than 17 percent. Let me reiterate -- almost a fifth of all opponent field goal attempts ended with an Upshaw block.
Additionally, Upshaw was a tremendous rebounder on either end of the floor, scoring almost 1.3 points per possession on putbacks. That said, he was dismissed from Washington for violating team rules, something that happened to him the season before when he was a redshirt transfer student.
Huskies head coach Lorenzo Romar is a Tony Dungy-esque leader, more likely to try to rehabilitate a player rather than play the hard line, so Upshaw's dismissal from Washington was a bigger red flag than had it happened at any number of schools. Still, 7-footers who block shots like he does don't grow on trees.