Los Angeles Lakers: Each new acquisition’s unique role next season

The Los Angeles Lakers have undergone quite the change this offseason. Each new face has been brought in for a very specific role next season.

The Los Angeles Lakers have brought more talent this offseason than the old front office could bring in the last five seasons. While the team still has quite a while to go, adding LeBron James alone was not only the biggest news of the summer but the biggest LA news this century.

Los Angeles was not content with just James, though. The Lakers front office also brought in veterans Lance Stephenson, Rajon Rondo and JaVale McGee as well as re-signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

These acquisitions were strange to some but all had one underlying commonality; they all were signed to one-year deals. The Lakers obviously have a master plan for next summer, as they did last summer for this year.

Perhaps the Lakers are not chasing a title in year one and recognize that there are going to be plenty more free agent options next summer. Reports did surface months ago that the Lakers were widening their lens to also include the summer of 2019. Even though the team brought in James, that is still on the table.

Thus, while each signing may not play a long-term role in the Lakers’ plans, they do have a very specific role to fill this season.

Starting with the obvious, here is each new acquisition’s role in the 2018-2019 season.