Los Angeles Lakers: Who should start at shooting guard?
The Los Angeles Lakers still have plenty of questions to answer before the 2018-2019 season, one of the biggest being who should start at shooting guard.
This offseason the Los Angeles Lakers re-signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to one year deal for $12 million. Caldwell-Pope will be re-joining second-year guard Josh Hart in the depth chart at shooting guard.
Caldwell-Pope and Hart are undoubtedly going to be battling for minutes in training camp, which should decide who will be the team’s starting shooting guard. As that looms, I will break down each of the two as well as give you my consensus pick for who the Los Angeles Lakers starting shooting guard should be.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope started 74 games for the Lakers last year, averaging 13. 4 points a game. He brings shooting and length to the table.
Caldwell-Pople shot 38 percent from three last year, his highest since he has been the NBA. His defense is key to being able to defend multiple positions, which is what you need in today’s NBA. Thus, Caldwell-Pope is the prototypical three and D player.
Josh Hart
Josh Hart played in 63 games in his rookie campaign, missing time due to a hand fracture. Hart averaged 7.9 points a game and shot 39 percent from three.
Hart really made a name for himself in the Las Vegas Summer League. In the Summer League, Hart won MVP honors while averaging 24.2 points a game on 47.1 percent shooting.
He showed he was a do-it-all player; he shot the three, drove to the basket, rebounded, passed to his teammates and defended well. Hart proved he can get to the basket and finish at the rim, something he struggled with in his rookie season. Summer league is one thing, now he needs to translate it to the NBA.
MY Choice
The Lakers will have a tough decision on their hands, but me personally, I would go with Josh Hart. I feel he brings a lot to the table that will help the Lakers win. I think he would play well off of Lebron James; he would be able to shoot the open three and be able to drive to the basket or kick to teammates when the defender closes out on him.
Next. Kevin Durant will never be a Laker. dark
The biggest thing I like is his ability to defend. The Los Angeles Lakers are going to need his defense to even contend with the Golden State Warriors.