Los Angeles Lakers' Ideal Starting Five For 2016-17 Season

By Timothy Downs

Now that Kobe Bryant is retired and his gargantuan salary is off the books, the Los Angeles Lakers are set to begin a new era. The Lakers have a solid core in place and made an incredibly wise decision to hire Luke Walton as head coach this month. Los Angeles also has a plethora of money to spend this summer and could put together a fairly impressive roster if the resources are spent wisely. With that in mind, here’s a look at their ideal (and completely feasible) starting five for the 2016-17 season.

Los Angeles Lakers\' Ideal Starting Five For 2016-17 Season
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Point Guard - D'Angelo Russell

Point Guard - D'Angelo Russell Credit: Getty Images
Russell flashed glimpses of brilliance at times during his rookie campaign, and he should only get better with the Nick Young video scandal behind him. With Kobe Bryant out of his way, expect to see more from Russell offensively next season.

Point Guard - D'Angelo Russell

Russell flashed glimpses of brilliance at times during his rookie campaign, and he should only get better with the Nick Young video scandal behind him. With Kobe Bryant out of his way, expect to see more from Russell offensively next season.

Shooting Guard - DeMar DeRozan

Shooting Guard - DeMar DeRozan Credit: Getty Images
The Lakers want to land at least one top-tier free agent, and DeRozan seems to be the guy they have the best chance to sign. DeRozan is perhaps the second-best scoring shooting guard in the NBA, and he can play the three when going smaller.

Shooting Guard - DeMar DeRozan

The Lakers want to land at least one top-tier free agent, and DeRozan seems to be the guy they have the best chance to sign. DeRozan is perhaps the second-best scoring shooting guard in the NBA, and he can play the three when going smaller.

Small Forward - Nicolas Batum

Small Forward - Nicolas Batum Credit: Getty Images
Batum does a bit of everything, as evidenced by his 14.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game with the Hornets this season. He would set a great example for Los Angeles' youngsters and contribute in all facets of the game.

Small Forward - Nicolas Batum

Batum does a bit of everything, as evidenced by his 14.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game with the Hornets this season. He would set a great example for Los Angeles' youngsters and contribute in all facets of the game.

Power Forward - Julius Randle

Power Forward - Julius Randle Credit: Getty Images
Julius Randle averaged 11.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game in what was essentially his rookie season, which is an excellent sign for the Lakers. With more shots available in the new campaign, expect to see Randle flourish on offense.

Power Forward - Julius Randle

Julius Randle averaged 11.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game in what was essentially his rookie season, which is an excellent sign for the Lakers. With more shots available in the new campaign, expect to see Randle flourish on offense.

Center - Joakim Noah

Center - Joakim Noah Credit: Getty Images
The Lakers need a defensive-minded center to come in and man the paint. Rather than going after someone like Al Horford who wants to score first, signing Joakim Noah is their best bet.

Center - Joakim Noah

The Lakers need a defensive-minded center to come in and man the paint. Rather than going after someone like Al Horford who wants to score first, signing Joakim Noah is their best bet.

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