Los Angeles Lakers: How LA should divide minutes on the bench

Moritz Wagner: Eight minutes

I nearly left Moritz Wagner off this list and gave more minutes to Beasley and Stephenson to give the Lakers a 10-man rotation. I also could have opted to go with fellow rookie, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, instead of Wagner for this tenth spot.

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Considering what the team needs this season and the fact that they used a first-round pick on Wagner, it is hard to see the Lakers completely ignoring the big man and not giving him minutes in his rookie season.

Laker fans are yet to see Wagner in the preseason as he is still getting fully healthy from an offseason injury. However, what he brings to the table is great for the Lakers and can cause him to quickly climb the ranks over Michael Beasley off the bench.

Wagner can stretch the floor and has a knockdown three-point shot that will eventually make him one of the best shooting big men in the game. And while he needs to work on his rebounding, the seven-footer has the size to play the center position and serve as a rim protector for the Lakers.

This is a testament to how deep the Lakers really are as well. The team’s first-round draft pick is barely going to get minutes and Mykhailiuk, who could be an elite shooter, might barely get some as well.

I did not want to include him as I think he is the 12th-best guy on the team. He will likely be worked into the team in some capacity at some point this season.

Heck, there is even Ivica Zubac who did not make our cut and likely should. However, he has not looked particularly good in the preseason, which has led us to go with Wagner over him.