With the Los Angeles Lakers changing up almost the entire roster during the offseason, a new starting lineup has to be assembled.
Head coach Frank Vogel has plenty of options with the talent at hand, but figuring out spacing is a primary key.
Russell Westbrook, LeBron James and Anthony Davis are the three locks to start, but since Gasol isn’t with the team anymore, the best way to optimize spacing with those three together is to bump Davis up to center.
That’s reportedly what is now expected of Davis as preseason nears, though things can change.
Who could the other two starters be?
According to Bill Oram, Shams Charania and Sam Amick of The Athletic, youngster Talen Horton-Tucker has a shot:
Third-year guard Talen Horton-Tucker, a rising, young talent for the Lakers, is also expected to compete in camp for a possible starting role.
Horton-Tucker hasn’t been a mainstay in a starting lineup before, but he could slot in at the 2, and perhaps, even at the 3. He has a 7-foot wingspan, but he’ll likely need to show strides on defense first before lining up there.
His shooting percentages also leave a lot to be desired, so if the Lakers have seen promise from his long-range shot this summer, it could be why those expectations are present.
Wayne Ellington, Kent Bazemore and Trevor Ariza are also solid options to start, but it’s a good sign for Horton-Tucker to have a shot.
The Lakers have high standards for him since Horton-Tucker received a three-year deal worth over $30 million.
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