Los Angeles Lakers' Ideal Starting Five For 2015-16 Season

Los Angeles Lakers' Ideal Starting Five For 2015-16 Season

By Brendan Patel

June 27, 2015

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Los Angeles Lakers' Ideal Starting Five For 2015-2016 Season

Los Angeles Lakers — The Los Angeles Lakers have struggled the past two seasons, but with a strong draft choice and cap space this summer, things are looking up for the organization. The team will likely have seven to eight players combining to make about ten million, meaning that they could have a go for a top heavy roster. There are some very good free agents on the market that are interested in Los Angeles, so the team could be a playoff contender next season.

The Los Angeles Lakers have struggled the past two seasons, but with a strong draft choice and cap space this summer, things are looking up for the organization. The team will likely have seven to eight players combining to make about ten million, meaning that they could have a go for a top heavy roster. There are some very good free agents on the market that are interested in Los Angeles, so the team could be a playoff contender next season.

Point Guard - D'Angelo Russell

D'Angelo Russell

Point Guard - D'Angelo Russell

D'Angelo Russell — The Lakers took Russell with the second pick and expect him to contribute immediately. He gives the team a playmaker at point guard, but will have to prove that he is comfortable off the ball when playing with Bryant. The sky is the limit for him, and he should have an excellent chance at competing for Rookie of the Year.

The Lakers took Russell with the second pick and expect him to contribute immediately. He gives the team a playmaker at point guard, but will have to prove that he is comfortable off the ball when playing with Bryant. The sky is the limit for him, and he should have an excellent chance at competing for Rookie of the Year.

Shooting Guard - Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant

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Shooting Guard - Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant — This may be Bryant’s last season, and the team will need to do a better of job of managing his minutes. Bryant is still a very good offensive player and might benefit from playing off the ball more. He will likely see more time at small forward as well, but needs to be smarter on defense.

This may be Bryant’s last season, and the team will need to do a better of job of managing his minutes. Bryant is still a very good offensive player and might benefit from playing off the ball more. He will likely see more time at small forward as well, but needs to be smarter on defense.

Small Forward - Jimmy Butler

Jimmy Butler

Small Forward - Jimmy Butler

Jimmy Butler — Butler is quickly becoming one of the best two-way players in the league, and would be a great fit with the defensively challenged Lakers. It will be extremely tough to steal the restricted free agent from Chicago, but a short term deal with player options might be enough to scare them away. Butler could be a candidate to move to shooting guard once Bryant retires.

Butler is quickly becoming one of the best two-way players in the league, and would be a great fit with the defensively challenged Lakers. It will be extremely tough to steal the restricted free agent from Chicago, but a short term deal with player options might be enough to scare them away. Butler could be a candidate to move to shooting guard once Bryant retires.

Power Forward - Julius Randle

Julius Randle

Power Forward - Julius Randle

Julius Randle — The team is still very excited about Randle, and he will have a lot to prove after missing almost the entire year last season. He has an intriguing offensive game with his strength, ball-handling, and finishing, but we will see if he has truly worked on his shooting. Defensively he may be a liability and will need the right players around him.

The team is still very excited about Randle, and he will have a lot to prove after missing almost the entire year last season. He has an intriguing offensive game with his strength, ball-handling, and finishing, but we will see if he has truly worked on his shooting. Defensively he may be a liability and will need the right players around him.

Center - Tyson Chandler

Tyson Chandler

Center - Tyson Chandler

Tyson Chandler — There is once again the possibility that the Lakers will strike out on the top free agent big men, in which case Chandler would be an excellent consolation prize. He is a veteran locker-room presence who will not cost as much, and his experience will benefit the younger players. Even at his age, he is a very good defensive player who uses his length, strong vocal skills, solid basketball IQ and excellent rotations to anchor defenses.

There is once again the possibility that the Lakers will strike out on the top free agent big men, in which case Chandler would be an excellent consolation prize. He is a veteran locker-room presence who will not cost as much, and his experience will benefit the younger players. Even at his age, he is a very good defensive player who uses his length, strong vocal skills, solid basketball IQ and excellent rotations to anchor defenses.

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Los Angeles Lakers

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