What About The 3 Biggest Moves Of The LA Lakers Offseason | Launderer report

Last season, the backbone of the Los Angeles Lakers’ success was their defense. With the moves they’ve made in recent days, it’s clear that they’re looking to add more offensive firepower while trying to maintain their defensive identity.

Ahead of the draft, the Lakers fired Danny Green and the 28th pick in Oklahoma City for Dennis Schroder. Then they signed free agent Wesley Matthews on a one-year, $ 3.6 million contract. They also shocked the NBA world when they convinced Montrezl Harrell to change lanes for two years, $ 19 million with a player option.

During last year’s regular season, the Lakers’ offense would fall off a cliff every time LeBron James went to the bench; their offensive note was 112.1 with him in the field and 105.2 with him. Days after the offseason started, they responded to those needs by adding the sixth man of the year, runner-up and a three-and-D wing.

How could things look like in Los Angeles in the coming season?

Can Schroder fill the void in Rondo?

Making this trade means the Lakers don’t expect Rajon Rondo to return after giving up his contract. His game in the bubble following his return from a broken thumb was exceptional, as in addition to being the second unit’s primary ball manager, he showed the value of having another playmaker on the court with James. .

Even though Green was sent to Oklahoma City for Schroder, it was a move to preemptively fill the void of Rondo’s loss.

Schroder had a great regular season coming off the bench for the Thunder and being part of their closing three-guard roster, where he averaged 18.9 points per game and shot a career-high in the field (46.9%) and three (38.5%). This last season he shot 41.4 percent on catch-and-shoot lines over 3.6 attempts. Rondo, meanwhile, turned 39.3 percent on catch-and-shoot trios on just 1.3 attempts.

Schroder is slightly more efficient in pick-and-rolls. According to Synergy Sports Technology, he had a better points score per possession in pick-and-roll than Rondo last year (0.912 vs. 0.901). And that’s without having a pick-and-roll partner as good as Anthony Davis.

Another big bonus of this job: the Lakers are getting younger. Schroder is 27 years old and is beginning to enter his prime. With several of their draft picks heading to New Orleans via Davis ‘trade, this is one of the few chances they have to get a young player more in line with Davis’ timeline.

Replacing Danny Green

Green’s loss in the Schroder trade created the need for a three-and-D wing, and that’s where Matthews’ signing comes in after he pulled out of a 2-deal deal, $ 7 million in Milwaukee.

While Green is expected to earn $ 15.4 million in the final year of his deal, this is an increase in value for the Lakers. Green and Matthews are both valuable catch-shooters able to defend themselves on the perimeter, and they also boast similar numbers, for example. NBA.com:

Green is a bit taller (6’6 “) than Matthews (6’4”), and they both bring similar defensive energy. The beauty for the Lakers is that they were able to replace Green at such a low cost that it gave them another big move.

A surprise signature

He caught almost everyone off guard when the Lakers forced Harrell at the Clippers to fill the gap when Dwight Howard left for Philadelphia.

Harrell’s market has fallen dramatically after his poor performance in the bubble, but that barely represents who he is as a player. He missed most of the mini training camp and much of the ranking matches after his grandmother passed away. He never had the chance to put his feet under him or get back into shape.

However, Harrell had a great regular season for the Clippers. He continued his four-year streak with a career-best 18.6 PPG, and he also added a career-high 7.1 rebounds per game while shooting 58 percent from the field.

For the Lakers, he offers an even more dynamic roll option than Howard, as he recorded the third-highest number of pick-and-roll points per possession for the roll men (1.31). His ability to ride should allow him and Schroder to form a very effective tandem, much like he did with Lou Williams on the other side of the room.

Harrell will most likely continue to come off the bench, but with Davis’ ability to shoot they can play together. The signing will also allow head coach Frank Vogel to rest Davis for longer periods without giving up too much on the attacking side. In a season with such a rapid turnaround, that cannot be overstated.

There’s also the added bonus of weakening one of their better rivals by robbing Harrell from the Clippers.

The Lakers are probably far from over, as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Avery Bradley are unrestricted free agents, and losing either or both would be a big blow. Caldwell-Pope was another three-and-D wing player who produced at a high level in both the regular season and the playoffs. Bradley stayed out of the bubble and his presence was missed as he was the Lakers’ best one-on-one perimeter defender. It’s also possible that GM Rob Pelinka has another trick up his sleeve.

The Lakers were stranded defensively last season, and it showed, as they finished third in the defensive standings. This offseason, they’ve prioritized the offensive and removed some of that pressure from their stars.

Barring another big move, the Lakers’ defense will most likely take a step back, but it won’t be as big as the step forward the offense will take. On day one of free agency, the NBA champions improved their roster while weakening one of their biggest threats.

The Lakers could have chosen to just go back, but instead of resting on their laurels, they got younger and more explosive. These moves put them on track to repeat themselves in 2021.

Mo Dakhil spent six years with the Los Angeles Clippers and two years with the San Antonio Spurs as a video coordinator, as well as three years with the Australian Men’s National Team. Follow him on Twitter, MoDakhil_NBA.