Analyzing the potential offensive punch from the Lakers’ backcourt

The Los Angeles Lakers could have the best collection of guards in Orlando for their second unit.

With the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers loading up their respective benches, the Los Angeles Lakers now have also bolstered their backcourt, particularly off the bench, prior to heading to guard at Disney World.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Monday that J.R. Smith would sign with the Lakers for the rest of the NBA season to replace Avery Bradley. Bradley has chosen not to play in Orlando because of family reasons.

With Smith joining the team, it’s as if the Lakers have acquired their last Infinity Stone — for quick scoring, shooting guards who can guard multiple positions.

Smith, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Dion Waiters make up the trio of guards that could be a key difference for the Lakers in the playoffs. Each of these players are capable shooters, with Caldwell-Pope having an exceptional year shooting at a career-high 39.4% from deep, already playing a major role.

Since Bradley was the usual starting two-guard, Caldwell-Pope will likely slide into his spot and still play some minutes with the second unit. He has been a key player throughout the season, scoring 9.5 points per game on a career-high 47.2% shooting. He has also started 20 games this season, averaging 11 points while shooting 43% from the 3-point line in those games.

In addition to Caldwell-Pope, Alex Caruso figures to have an increased role. Caruso is arguably the best defender out of the four, with Caldwell-Pope right behind.

As an effective bench guard, Caruso has had a breakout season because of his quality perimeter defense. He will replace the level of defensive production Bradley brought. Caruso has scored 5.4 points per game and shot 35.5% from the 3-point line this season.

According to NBA.com stats, Caruso has a defensive rating of 100.3; Bradley posted a defensive rating of 104.0 this season. Units featuring LeBron James and Caruso have been incredible this season, posting a net rating of +20.8 over 54 games.

While Caldwell-Pope and Caruso bring more certainty, Smith and Waiters are the two wild cards, who could sprinkle in much-needed variance during the postseason. Smith hasn’t played since the 2018-19 season, when he only competed in 11 games with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Smith and the Cavs agreed for him to step away from the team in November 2018, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. The franchise worked to create a trade but one never surfaced. The Cavs waived Smith in July 2019, per NBA.com. 

Smith hasn’t played in a game since Nov. 19, 2018. It’s going to be an adjustment for most of the players in the Orlando bubble, as the league’s regulars haven’t played since March.

With Smith coming into a situation filled with pressure — only eight seeding games precede the playoffs — it’s worth wondering how much value he can really bring. He’ll be rustier than many of his counterparts, and yet, the risk is worth taking for the Lakers.

As the 2013 Sixth Man of the Year, Smith has proven he can score in bunches as well as anyone. Aside from his mishap at the end of regulation during Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals, Smith was pivotal during the Cavs’ playoff runs, especially during their 2016 Finals win.

During the 2016 Finals, Smith scored 10.6 points per game and shot 35.6% from the 3-point line. He was the Cavs’ third-leading scorer behind LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.

Waiters, who was signed shortly before the league shutdown, is the most gifted of this group when it comes to creating his own shot.

But he has only played three games this season. He was suspended by the Miami Heat multiple times, but he shined in the three games he earned run. This season Waiters has scored 9.3 points per game, grabbed 3.7 rebounds per game and shot 47.1% from the 3-point line on 5.7 attempts a game.

Those numbers make up a small sample size, but Waiters has proven his ability in previous seasons. Last season with the Heat, he scored 12.0 points per game and shot 37.7% from the 3-point line in 44 games. He has scored 13.2 points per game and shot 34.8% from deep for his career.

The quartet of Caldwell-Pope, Caruso, Smith and Waiters isn’t going to completely mask the absence of Bradley. The Lakers are losing one of their best defenders in Bradley, and the perimeter will have to be secured more.

Still, the scoring punch that particularly Caldwell-Pope, Smith and Waiters could deliver is intriguing.

Add in Caruso’s utility play style, and the Lakers could end up boasting a bench that can legitimately compete with the Los Angeles Clippers, the deepest team in the Western Conference.

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