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Los Angeles Lakers: Building the ideal rotation with LeBron James

By Jason Reed

BOSTON, MA - MAY 27: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts in the second half against the Boston Celtics during Game Seven of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 27, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MAY 27: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts in the second half against the Boston Celtics during Game Seven of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 27, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Small forward:

  • Brandon Ingram (30 minutes), Kyle Kuzma (10 minutes), Lance Stephenson (8 minutes)

The Los Angeles Lakers have the ability to get creative as the team as Brandon Ingram, who can play the two or the three, Kyle Kuzma, who can play the three or the four and Lance Stephenson, who can also play the two or the three all seeing minutes at small forward.

And let us not forget about LeBron James, who is a natural small forward to begin with and may even see time at the position in larger lineups over the course of the season. To start the year, though, James is going to play the role of power forward.

Let’s face, basketball in 2018 is pretty much positionless, anyway.

Brandon Ingram should see the second-most minutes in the starting unit behind James as he progresses into an all-star, something LeBron James thinks is going to happen. An uptick in minutes as the second scoring option next season will lead to that transition.

Behind Ingram is Kyle Kuzma, who will see some time at small forward like he did last season. Don’t worry, though, Kuzma is going to see more than just 10 minutes per game.

Finally, the Lakers would be calling in Lance Stephenson to fill out minutes as well as serve as a headache to people like James Harden and Draymond Green when the Lakers play the Rockets and Warriors.

Stephenson likely won’t have a huge role offensively, however, his defense and mind games will warrant at least two quality minutes per quarter.

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