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Fans are excited by the prospects of what the LA Lakers can achieve in the 2021-22 NBA season. There is a good chance for the Lakers to win the 2022 NBA Finals, given the quality of talent on the roster going into the new season.
It has been a productive offseason for the LA Lakers, who failed to make a deep run in the 2021 NBA playoffs. They lacked depth on their roster, which became evident following injuries sustained by LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Except for Alex Caruso, who remained a menace on defense, the LA Lakers' role players were missing in action. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope failed to find his shooting range in the playoffs, knocking down just four of 19 three-point attempts.
In a bid to remedy their lapses, the LA Lakers went all out in the 2021 offseason to acquire elite role players. It will be exciting to see how Rob Pelinka's decisions will benefit the team during the new season.
Without further ado, here are the top five role players on the LA Lakers roster for the 2021-22 NBA season.
#5 Dwight Howard
Dwight Howard spent the 2020-21 NBA season with the Philadelphia 76ers, following his departure from the LA Lakers. Previously, he made significant contributions off the bench to help the Lakers win their 17th championship.
Howard signed with the Lakers for the third time in his 17-year career this summer and will be part of an elite team that will try to bring another championship to the Staples Center. With Andre Drummond and Montrezl Harrell's departure, the purple and gold needed depth at the center and opted for Howard.
The 2004 overall first-round pick is a certified rim rocker, but the LA Lakers are more interested in his defensive and rebounding abilities. Howard is an elite rebounder who will create a lot of opportunities for second-chance buckets.
Although he has not mastered the art of protecting the rim without fouling, he still does a decent job scaring away opponents that drive to the rim. Superman, as he is popularly called, will provide a dominant presence in the paint.
#4 Trevor Ariza
Trevor Ariza is not the athletic player he was once. Regardless, he has managed to maintain his defensive intensity throughout his 17-year career. Ariza won a championship with the LA Lakers in 2009, playing alongside Kobe Bryant, and will be eager to win again.
The LA Lakers would like to maintain their No.1 ranking in defensive rating despite Caruso's departure. Although Ariza is not as athletic, he is an elite 3-and-D player. With Howard protecting the paint, the 36-year-old wing will be responsible for defending the perimeter.
#3 Kent Bazemore
The LA Lakers struggled with scoring in the 2021 NBA playoffs, mainly because the role players were not efficient. Although Kent Bazemore is not one of the most prolific scorers, he delivers from three-point range when called upon.
After coming off a 40% 3-point shooting season with the Golden State Warriors, Bazemore agreed to sign for the LA Lakers in free agency. It was the best shooting season of Bazemore's career, and the Lakers will hope he can maintain his form when given the nod.
More importantly, the LA Lakers will cherish Bazemore's high-intensity defensive approach. His 7-foot wingspan and quick instincts will bother opposing scorers and perhaps lead to turnovers. Bazemore is proof that the Lakers have done a decent job in pursuing players who can deliver at a high degree on both ends of the court this offseason.
#2 Wayne Ellington
Wayne Ellington will return to Staples Center, but there is a great chance that he might be more successful this time. In his first stint with the LA Lakers during the 2014-15 season, they finished as the second-worst team in the West.
Ellington's addition is mainly to bolster the side's shooting, an area that played a part in the LA Lakers' early disqualification during the 2021 NBA playoffs. The 33-year-old seems to have found his range with the Detroit Pistons as he finished the 2020-21 season shooting 42.2% while attempting six shots per game.
With James or Russell Westbrook controlling proceedings, Ellington should have a field day knocking down open 3's from all areas of the court. Although he would likely be a liability on defense, it would not matter much if he fills his role properly on offense.
#1 Carmelo Anthony
The LA Lakers were in dire need of a player that could produce in a situation where James and/or Davis are absent. To that effect, they closed a deal with one of the best scorers in league history.
Carmelo Anthony occupies the No. 10 spot on the NBA's all-time points leaders list and is one of two active players in the top ten. His role with the LA Lakers will be to keep the offense running when the starters are rested, an area he excelled at for the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2020-21 season.
Guarding Anthony will continually be a horrifying job as he will be too much for one defender. His decent court vision should also keep the defense honest.
Guess the Lakers players!
