Can Kobe Bryant be great again? What about Steve Nash? How are the Los Angeles Lakers going to perform? What will the lineup be? These questions crowd discussions nowadays after a forgettable 2013-14 season, with a 27-55 win-loss record.
The Top 5 Lakers cagers in terms of on-court action were Jodie Meeks, Wesley Johnson, Pau Gasol, Nick Young and Kendall Marhall, Hoops Habit noted. However, Bryant will return and Meeks, Gasol and Marshall already bade goodbye.
More than two months ago, the report came out with a hypothetical lineup, noting the drastic changes that loom with those conditions. We agree, and here's what we think it will look like:
Kobe Bryant
Losing out on the action in the past season, Bryant is hungry for on-court action, and with ESPN listing him as the team's most valuable player—in terms of salary, that is—the Lakers would want him around as their shooting guard. Hoops Habit said that a sure spot in the First Five also has to do with his being the face of the team.
Nick Young
Latin Post believes Young's spot as the second highest paid player will not be wasted warming up the bench. He could be small forward, it said.
Although the Lakers did badly in the past season, it still managed to take the No. 2 spot in terms of three-point shots, the report said. Young can help them build up on that with his career high 135 shots from the three-point area last season.
Jeremy Lin
Although the Lakers lost against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center, 120-105, NBC Los Angeles noted Lin's outstanding performance offensively on his first start with the team—14 points, four assists and four rebounds.
Ironically, the point guard got the spot only after coach Byron Scott opted to not let Nash play.
According to ESPN Go, he might be the go-to all-season if he isn't starting. "That's one of the things we have that we just don't know with Steve right now," Scott said.
Carlos Boozer
Both Hoops Habit and Latin Post place Boozer as the power forward next season.
His numbers won't replace Gasol's, but he is outstanding in terms of rebounds, passes and free throws, Latin Post said, adding that he will also beef up the Lakers defense.
According to Hoops Habit, meanwhile, he will begin the season. However, the issue is if he will stay there for the rest of the season, with Julius Randle in the roster.
Jordan Hill
Hill might be the center. Latin Post said the Lakers are thin in that area and, last season, Hill managed to chalk up career highs in his stats, even leading in offensive rebounds.
Bleacher Report also places him there, crediting his 20.8 minutes per game, where he shot 54.9 percent from the floor and scored 9.7 points. He might even trump last year's career highs, it added.
Who is in your First Five?
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