'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
After the mysterious but intriguing free agent superstar and reigning Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard spurned the Los Angeles Lakers for their hallway rivals Los Angeles Clippers, the Lakers used their available cap money to make a flurry of free agent signings. They have more size, depth, shooting, and skill in their roster since their last championship in 2010.
One of the biggest changes the Lakers will have in the upcoming 2019-2020 season come at the guard positions. The Lakers re-signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Rajon Rondo and Alex Caruso.
However, the Lakers also made several new additions to the backcourt. The Lakers added Danny Green, Troy Daniels, Quinn Cook, and Avery Bradley. They have apparently made another “addition” to the backcourt, with reports suggesting that LeBron James will switch to the point guard position in the upcoming season.
LeBron James
At a listed 6-8 and 250 pounds, LeBron James will be the second tallest point guard in the NBA, after his fellow Klutch Sports client Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers, who stands at 6-10. Additionally, James is clearly the heaviest at this position.
James has played every position in his career, but he has not been “officially” a point guard on a regular basis since his rookie season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, the ball has never stopped being in his hands. He has always been the primary ball-handler for every team he has played for, even with the likes of Dwyane Wade and Kyrie Irving. He is also one of the all-time leaders in assists.
LeBron has a good bit of athleticism and quickness left, even at the verge of 35 years old. He has become a post player in the last half of his career anyway, often using his size, strength, and footwork. So it will be easy for him to overwhelm smaller guards.
The challenge will be LeBron's capacity defensively. It has been noted that he has lost a step or two defensively, and virtually every team in the Western Conference has a quick and/or elite point guard. Fortunately for him, he will be teamed in the backcourt with established defenders such as Danny Green, Avery Bradley, and the newly resigned Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Also, another legend that wore purple-and-gold and was a 6-9 point guard will likely have his ear; Magic Johnson. Magic still is heavily involved with the franchise even after controversially resigning as team president.
Danny Green
Danny Green was awaiting the decision from his long-time friend, teammate, and fellow two-time NBA champion Kawhi Leonard. Once it was officially announced that “The Klaw” was taking his talents back home with the Los Angeles Clippers, Green decided to play down the hall with the Lakers. He signed a 2-year, $30 million contract.
For the first time since 2011, Green will not be paired on a team with Leonard. He had expressed interest in the Lakers during his free agency, as well as the Dallas Mavericks. The 6-6 swingman is the classic “3-and-D” player with championship experience and has had a reputation for getting hot in big games over the course of his career. His stint with the Toronto Raptors was a successful one, capped off by an NBA Finals victory over the favored, but depleted Golden State Warriors.
However, Green has seen better postseasons. The 32-year-old struggled from the field for most of the playoffs, and in the second half of several games, Raptors coach Nick Nurse usually inserted spark plug Fred VanVleet at shooting guard.
Green may have even lost a bit of a step defensively, as he committed silly reach-in fouls at times. However, he still had his moments in the Finals. In a pivotal Game 3 in Oakland, with the series knotted 1-1, Danny Green shot 6-for-10 from 3-point range (and the field) for 18 points. He also had a memorable chase-down block against Quinn Cook.
Green has familiarity with LeBron James, not only playing against him in the 2013 and 2014 NBA Finals as a member of the San Antonio Spurs, but he played with him his rookie season in 2010 with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Troy Daniels
The Lakers got a much-needed 3-point specialist early in free agency with Troy Daniels, by signing him to a 1-yr, minimum $2.1 million pact. He brings his career average of 40 percent (38.1% last season) to a Lakers team that was ranked 29th out of 30 teams in 3-point percentage (33.3%). Daniels, 27, is not known for much beyond his shooting, as there are questions about his defense and ball-handling skills. That is likely a contributing factor as to why he has bounced around the NBA (the Lakers will be his sixth team) and was largely out of the rotation for a lowly Phoenix Suns team last season. His averages were 6.2 ppg in 14.9 minutes over 51 games. However, he has established himself as a sniper off the bench who can get hot in limited minutes.
Quinn Cook
The Lakers were able to pull off another sneaky good move in the hours following Kawhi and Paul George team-up with the Clippers by signing 26-year-old point guard Quinn Cook for 2-yr and $6 million. Cook shot 40.5 percent from three point range this past season and 41.8 for his career. He has filled in admirably in the absence of Steph Curry when hurt over the last two seasons. He often shows good poise and leadership. In the playoffs and finals, he was called upon to play more minutes with the variety of injuries. However Cook can be streaky, and struggled at times on both ends against Toronto (he was on the receiving end of a crossover and crucial 3 by Fred VanVleet in the 4th quarter). But one of his most notable moments in the Finals came in Game 2. He scored 9 points in 21 minutes, on 3-of-5 from 3-point range (3-of-6 overall), including two consecutive dagger 3s in the 4th quarter, in less than one minute.
The Lakers signing has a bigger personal meaning for Quinn Cook, as his late father was an avid Lakers fan. He wrote a heart-felt post on social media following his decision.
Avery Bradley
The Lakers used their room exception to sign veteran guard Avery Bradley for 2-yr and $9 million. Bradley, 28, has long established himself as a defensive stalwart, who has improved as a shooter and scorer. Despite being just 6-2, he has long arms, and has the ability to switch and play the pick and roll. He has had experience guarding bigger players, even guarding LeBron James at times over the years. He spent part of last season with the hallway rival Los Angeles Clippers, before being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. With the Grizz, Bradley averaged 16.1 ppg, 4.0 ast, 3.1 reb, and 1.0 stl in 16 games. He also shot 38.4% from the 3-point range, adding another much-needshooter to the team. With the Clippers, he formed a small but ferocious defensive duo in the backcourt with Patrick Beverley, who is widely regarded as the best and toughest defensive point guard in the league. It was not easy to score with those two harassing from 94 feet. Bradley hopes to have a similar impact when paired with his former Boston Celtics teammate Rajon Rondo, who was just re-signed for two years with the Lakers.
Guess the Lakers players!
