Los Angeles Lakers: Three bold predictions for Josh Hart next season
By Jason Reed
1. Josh Hart will start on the bench for the majority of the season
This may seem contradictory after all the positive things said about Hart in the introduction of this article. However, although Hart is certainly coming into his own as one of the best role-playing combo guards in the league, he will be playing with the reserves for most of the season.
This is not necessarily a bad thing, either. We see it in the NBA all the time, perhaps the third or fourth best player on the team is relegated to the bench to provide a spark and leadership in the second unit. Think Lou Williams, Eric Gordon and perhaps the best example, Jamal Crawford.
The NBA’s sixth man has really developed into a pretty important role and Hart is the perfect talent to fill that role. He can provide everything to the second unit. He can score, he can rebound the basketball, is a great defender and has really blossomed into a good leader, evident from his Summer League performance.
Alongside Rajon Rondo, the Los Angeles Lakers will have arguably the best backcourt off the bench in the league.
Meanwhile, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who is signed to the same agency that LeBron James is signed to, Klutch Sports Group, will be in the starting unit.
Hart will eventually make it very hard to continue to start Caldwell-Pope and will force his way into the starting lineup as the Lakers prepare for the playoffs. However, initially, LeBron and head coach Luke Walton are going to love the three and D fit that Caldwell-Pope is alongside James.