Looking Back at the 2019-20 Los Angeles Lakers

November 15th, 2020

by Alan Lu

The Los Angeles Lakers were ultimately victorious this season, but they went through some trials and tribulations to win the 2020 NBA championship. 2020 was a trying year for the Los Angeles Lakers, and they managed to experience all the emotions that came with this season.  Legendary, Hall of Fame guard, Kobe Bryant died in late January in a helicopter crash that killed all nine people onboard including his daughter, and both the NBA and the Lakers suffered a gut-wrenching, tragic loss to their basketball families.

It was up to LeBron, Anthony Davis, and the Lakers to carry on, and they sure did.  They managed to win 52 of 71 games in the regular season, and the Lakers ended up winning in 5 games each over the Blazers, Rockets, and Nuggets to advance to the 2020 NBA Finals under new head coach, Frank Vogel.  LeBron and Anthony Davis played terrific basketball as the Heat could not contain them, and they also received solid performances from their role players.  The Lakers consistently excelled in the NBA Finals, and they ended up winning the title by defeating the Miami Heat in 6 games in 2020.

G LeBron James – A

2020 (LAL): 67 GP, 25.3 PPG, 10.2 APG, 7.8 RPG, 49 FG%, 35 3PT%, 69 FT%, 34.6 MPG, 25.5 PER, 9.8 WS

LeBron James had a tremendous season for the Lakers, and he brought forth numerous legendary performances in the postseason to lead his team to win the title in 2020.  He was able to collect triple-doubles effortless, and he is an excellent all-around player that does just about everything well.  Curiously though, he’s not a great free throw shooter, though, and he could look to improve in that area.  Still, James averaged nearly 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists in the playoffs, and LeBron James is the best active player in the NBA today.

Projected 2021 Role/Expectations: Franchise player/Starting point guard or point forard of the Los Angeles Lakers
Projected 2021 Rating: 5 stars

F Anthony Davis – A

2020 (LAL): 62 GP, 26.1 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 3.2 APG, 2.3 BPG, 1.5 SPG, 50 FG%, 33 3PT%, 85 FT%, 34.4 MPG, 27.4 PER, 11.1 WS

Anthony Davis had a terrific season for the Lakers in 2020.  He is a superstar forward that made an electrifying impact for his team on both ends of the floor.  He is a dynamic big man that does everything well and can play like a guard, and he is an excellent two-way player.  He also shot the ball well from beyond the arc in the postseason.  Davis showed a whole new dimension to his game by making threes consistently in the playoffs, and he is a magnificent all-around player that is one of the best players in the NBA today.

Projected 2021 Role/Expectations: Franchise player/Starting power forward of the Los Angeles Lakers
Projected 2021 Rating: 4.5 stars

Side note: Davis has a player option at the end of the 2019-20 season, but he recently opted out, which will allow him to earn more via free agency.

F Danny Green – B

2020 (LAL): 68 GP, 8 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 42 FG%, 37 3PT%, 69 FT%, 24.8 MPG, 10.8 PER, 3.4 WS

Danny Green had a fairly solid season for the Lakers.  He is a prototypical 3 and D role player in the NBA, and he generally excels at knocking down shots and defending his opponents in games.  He struggled to make shots consistently in the playoffs, but Green is a smart, savvy veteran that tends to make the right basketball play.  Though he’s not an elite scorer, his ability to knock down spot-up jumpers and defend will enable him to get plenty of minutes for the upcoming season.

Update: Today, the Los Angeles Lakers agreed in principle to trade Danny Green and #28 to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Dennis Schroder. Therefore, Danny Green will be traded to the Thunder, and he will not play for the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2020-21 NBA season.

Projected 2021 Role/Expectations: Rotation player
Projected 2021 Rating: 2.5 stars

G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope – B+

2020 (LAL): 69 GP, 9.3 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 1.6 APG, 47 FG%, 38 3PT%, 77 FT%, 25.5 MPG, 11 PER, 3.7 WS

Caldwell-Pope had a solid season for the Lakers in 2020.  He is a sharpshooting guard that excelled at making shots to help his team on offense, and he also played adequate defense for his team.  He will need to improve his rebounding and playmaking skills, but his ability to shoot, score, and defend will enable him to be a key contributor for the Lakers for the upcoming season.

Projected 2021 Role/Expectations: Rotation player
Projected 2021 Rating: 2.5 stars

Side note: Has a player option at the end of the 2019-20 season.

C JaVale McGee – B+

2020 (LAL): 68 GP, 6.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.4 BPG, 64 FG%, 16.6 MPG, 19.4 PER, 4.7 WS

JaVale McGee is an athletic, high-motor big man that excelled as an interior player for the Lakers in 2020.  He made shots efficiently, did a good job of rebounding and blocking shots, and he excelled as an interior defender for his team.  He’s a situational use center because he doesn’t have a whole lot of perimeter skills, and he doesn’t defend well out on the perimeter, but he has shown he can play well when matched up against other centers.

Projected 2021 Role/Expectations: Starter/solid bench player
Projected 2021 Rating: 2 stars

Side note: Has a player option at the end of the 2019-20 season.

G Rajon Rondo – A-

2020 (LAL): 48 GP, 7.1 PPG, 5 APG, 3 RPG, 42 FG%, 33 3PT%, 66 FT%, 20.5 MPG, 12.4 PER, 1.4 WS

Rajon Rondo played well in a bench role for the Lakers, and he saved some of his best performances for the last games of the postseason in the Orlando bubble.  He is well known for his strong playmaking, rebounding, and defensive skills, but he’s never really been known for his jump shot.  While he struggled to make shots efficiently in the regular season, he did a good job of making shots in the postseason, and he was effective both as a slasher and jump shooter in the playoffs.    He was especially effective in the NBA Finals, and he really bolstered the Lakers’ bench this year.

Projected 2021 Role/Expectations: Rotation player
Projected 2021 Rating: 2.5 stars

Side note: Has a player option at the end of the 2019-20 season.

G Alex Caruso – B+

2020 (LAL): 64 GP, 5.5 PPG, 1.9 APG, 1.9 RPG, 41 FG%, 33 3PT%, 73 3PT%, 18.4 MPG, 10.8 PER, 2.3 WS

Alex Caruso is a very athletic, energetic point guard that became a fan favorite due to his ability to make hustle plays, and he also can throw down some athletic dunks on breakaways.  Caruso is also a solid defensive guard that can consistently lock down his man.  He’s not really an elite scorer or shooter, but he is an effective caretaker that has excelled as a backup point guard in the NBA.

Projected 2021 Role/Expectations: Rotation player
Projected 2021 Rating: 2.5 stars

F Kyle Kuzma – C+

2020 (LAL): 61 GP, 12.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 44 FG%, 32 3PT%, 74 FT%, 25 MPG, 12.2 PER, 2 WS

Kyle Kuzma was on the 2019 U.S. team that played in the summer, and it’s good that he is getting the recognition that he deserves as one of the rising stars in this country.  He is an athletic combo forward that can score the basketball, and he can play very well when he is on his game.  However, he hasn’t really been the most consistent or efficient scorer recently, and he has struggled noticeably with his outside shot.  He also will need to improve his playmaking and defensive skills.  Kuzma may not be the most consistent player in games, but he can provide a strong scoring punch off the bench when he is playing well.

Projected 2021 Role/Expectations: Rotation player
Projected 2021 Rating: 2 stars (3 stars potential)

G Avery Bradley – B

2020 (LAL): 49 GP, 8.6 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 44 FG%, 36 3PT%, 83 FT%, 24.2 MPG, 8.9 PER, 1.5 WS

Avery Bradley excelled as a 3 and D combo guard for the Lakers, and he was given plenty of tough assignments defensively during the regular season.  He opted out of the NBA restart to focus on social activism.  He’ll need to improve his playmaking skills in the meantime, but his ability to shoot and defend will likely earn him plenty of minutes next season.

Projected 2021 Role/Expectations: Rotation player
Projected 2021 Rating: 2 stars

Side note: Bradley has a player option at the end of the 2019-20 season, but is expected to opt-in to stay with the Lakers.

C Dwight Howard – A-

2020 (LAL): 69 GP, 7.5 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.1 BPG, 73 FG%, 18.9 MPG, 18.7 PER, 5.4 WS

Dwight Howard had a terrific bounce back year after missing most of the 2018-19 season due to a gluteal injury when he was with the Wizards.  After signing with the Lakers on a vet’s minimum contract, he excelled as an interior player for them.  He made shots very efficiently, and he was a solid rebounder and interior defender for them.  He is a situational use role player that matches up well against other centers, but didn’t get nearly as much run in the playoffs, as his team was considerably less effective with him out there, as other teams deployed smaller, quicker lineups to combat him.  Still, this was a successful season for Howard, and he may command more money than he received with the Lakers in the 2020 season.

Projected 2021 Role/Expectations: Rotation player
Projected 2021 Rating: 2 stars

Side note: Howard will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2019-20 season.

F Markieff Morris – C+ (C with Detroit, B with the Lakers)

2020 (TOT): 58 GP, 9.7 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 44 FG%, 39 3PT%, 78 FT%, 20.5 MPG, 12.5 PER, 1.4 WS
2020 (DET): 44 GP, 11 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.6 APG, 45 FG%, 40 3PT%, 77 FT%, 22.5 MPG, 12.7 PER, 1 WS
2020 (LAL): 14 GP, 5.3 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 41 FG%, 33 3PT%, 83 FT%, 14.2 MPG, 11.5 PER, 0.4 WS

After having been waived midseason unceremoniously by the Pistons, Markieff Morris latched on by signing with the Lakers midseason, and he excelled as a role player off the bench for them.  He played well in the playoffs, as he was very efficient in making shots, and he also defended well for the Lakers when he was on the court. 

Morris will need to improve his playmaking skills in the meantime, and he will need to be a more consistent performer in games.  Regardless, he was a key contributor for the Lakers in the postseason, and he could earn more than the vet’s minimum for an NBA team in the upcoming season.

Projected 2021 Role/Expectations: Rotation player
Projected 2021 Rating: 2 stars

Side note: Morris will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2019-20 season.

G Quinn Cook – C

2020 (LAL): 44 GP, 5.1 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 1.1 APG, 43 FG%, 36 3PT%, 79 FT%, 11.5 MPG, 10 PER, 0.3 WS

Cook is the Lakers’ third-string point guard, and he is a shooter off the bench for them.  He can effectively run the team and also make spot-up jumpers.  He’s not the most dynamic player and he will need to improve his defense, but his ability to shoot and pass the basketball can allow him to get some minutes with the Lakers or another team in the NBA.

Projected 2021 Role/Expectations: Fringe rotation player, backend roster player
Projected 2021 Rating: 1.5 stars

F Jared Dudley – C+

2020 (LAL): 45 GP, 1.5 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 40 FG%, 43 3PT%, 100 FT%, 8.1 MPG, 7.8 PER, 0.8 WS

Jared Dudley has been an effective spot-up shooter and perimeter defender pretty much throughout his entire career, so it was good to see his efforts rewarded with an NBA title this season.  He’s nearing close to the end of his career, as he didn’t see many minutes, and doesn’t really do much else well when he is on the court, but he is a high basketball IQ player whose veteran guidance and leadership can help provide stability for NBA teams.

Projected 2021 Role/Expectations: Fringe rotation player, backend roster player
Projected 2021 Rating: 1.5 stars

Side note: Will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2019-20 season.

G Dion Waiters – D+ (C with Miami, D with the LA Lakers)

2020 (TOT): 10 GP, 11.1 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 2 APG, 41 FG%, 32 3PT%, 82 FT%, 20.7 MPG, 11.5 PER, 0.1 WS
2020 (MIA): 3 GP, 9.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 38 FG%, 47 3PT%, 0 FT%, 14 MPG, 13.4 PER, 0 WS
2020 (LAL): 7 GP, 11.9 PPG, 2.4 APG, 1.9 RPG, 42 FG%, 23 3PT%, 88 FT%, 23.6 MPG, 11 PER, 0.1 WS

Dion Waiters quickly fell out of favor with the Miami Heat this season, and he ended up getting passed on their depth chart.  After being traded and waived, he latched on with the Lakers late in the regular season.  He was a scorer for them off the bench, but he struggled to make shots efficiently, and he especially had trouble making threes for the Lakers this season.

Projected 2021 Role/Expectations: Fringe rotation player, backend roster
Projected 2021 Rating: 1.5 stars

Side note: Will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2019-20 season.

G J.R. Smith – C

2020 (LAL): 6 GP, 2.8 PPG, 32 FG%, 9 3PT%, 100 FT%, 13.2 MPG, 0 PER, -0.1 WS

J.R. Smith is a veteran shooter that can put up points in a hurry, and he helped the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers win an NBA championship.  However, after playing poorly in 11 games with the Cavs in 2019, he was not re-signed and spent most of this season without an NBA team. 

The Los Angeles Lakers finally decided to sign him to play in the Orlando bubble.  J.R. Smith did not play well at all, but he provided a locker room presence and was on the 2020 Lakers’ team that ended up winning the NBA championship this year.

Projected 2021 Role/Expectations: Depth guard, fringe roster player
Projected 2021 Rating: 1.5 stars

Side note: Will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2019-20 season.

F Devontae Cacok (Two-Way) – B

2020 (LAL): 1 GP, 6 PPG, 5 RPG, 50 FG%, 9 MPG, 28.6 PER, 0 WS
2020 (NBA G-League): 33 GP, 19.4 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 66 FG%, 23.9 MPG, 29.6 PER, 3.3 WS

Having signed midway through the season on a two-way contract with the Lakers, Devontae Cacok only played in one NBA game with them, but he was incredibly effective in that one game as a rebounder and passer for them.  Cacok is an undersized big man that will need to improve his perimeter skills, but his rebounding and high-motor style may give him a shot to earn more minutes next season in the NBA.

Projected 2021 Role/Expectations: Fringe rotation player, backend roster player
Projected 2021 Rating: 1.5 stars (2 star potential)

G Talen Horton-Tucker – C

2020 (LAL): 6 GP, 5.7 PPG, 1.3 SPG, 47 FG%, 31 3PT%, 50 FT%, 13.5 MPG, 12.3 PER, 0.1 WS
2020 (NBA G-League): 38 GP, 18.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.4 SPG, 42 FG%, 31 3PT%, 74 FT%, 29.8 MPG, 14.1 PER, -0.4 WS

He is an athletic, physical point forward that didn’t play much for the Lakers in the NBA, that showed promise with his solid all-around play for their G-League team.  Horton-Tucker will need to improve his jump shot and he will need to cut down on his turnovers, but he is a talented player that may possess considerable upside, and his versatility and athleticism could enable him to crack an NBA team’s rotation sometime in the near future.

Projected 2021 Role/Expectations: Fringe rotation player, backend roster player
Projected 2021 Rating: 1 stars (2.5 stars potential)

F-C Kostas Antetokounmpo (Two-Way) – C

2020 (LAL): 5 GP, 1.4 PPG, 100 FG%, 4 MPG, 16.3 PER, 0.1 WS
2020 (NBA G-League): 38 GP, 14.1 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.3 BPG, 62 FG%, 25.5 MPG, 17.7 PER, 1.3 WS

He’s the younger brother of Giannis, Kostas Antetokounmpo didn’t play much for the Lakers in 2020, nor was he expected to, but he is an athletic big man that showed promise in the G-League, as he could project into an energetic, rim protector role off the bench in the NBA.

Projected 2021 Role/Expectations: Depth big man, fringe roster player
Projected 2021 Rating: 1 star (2 star potential)

Head Coach:
Frank Vogel – 2020 season grade: A
2020 (LAL): 52-19, 16-5, won the 2020 NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers
Head Coaching Career: 356-310, 47-35 in his playoff career

Initially, there seemed to be some skepticism when the Lakers hired Frank Vogel to replace Luke Walton, but Vogel did an excellent job with the Los Angeles Lakers this season in 2020.  Vogel is a defensive-oriented coach that really strengthened his team’s defense.  In the past, he used to be sort of rigid with his lineups, so there were concerns if he would make adjustments in the postseason.

In this postseason, Vogel made the appropriate adjustments in the playoffs to effectively combat other teams’ strategies.  There would be times where he would shorten his rotation, and other times he would go small when the time called for it.  He allowed his best players to shine in the playoffs, and he played a crucial role in leading his team to win the 2020 NBA championship.

Projected 2021 Role/Expectations: Head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers
Projected 2021 Rating: 3.5 stars

The 2020 Los Angeles Lakers’ season grade: A+

The Los Angeles Lakers had an excellent season, and they were magnificent in the playoffs, as they were excellent on both ends of the floor, and their superstars, LeBron James and Anthony Davis dominated the opposition to lead their team to win the title.  They also had numerous unsung heroes that made critical shots and got the necessary stops to help them win the championship in 2020.

The Los Angeles Lakers’ Projected 2020-21 NBA Rotation

Projected Starters:
C JaVale McGee
F Anthony Davis
F Kyle Kuzma
G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
G LeBron James

Key Reserves:
G Dennis Schroder
G Alex Caruso
G Avery Bradley
C Dwight Howard* (UFA)
F Markieff Morris* (UFA)

Others competing for a spot in the rotation next season:
G Quinn Cook

Other players that are currently projected to be on their next season’s roster:
F Devontae Cacok (Two-Way)
G Talen Horton-Tucker
F-C Kostas Antetokounmpo (Two-Way)

Players that will be Restricted Free Agents:
None

Players that will be Unrestricted Free Agents:
Dwight Howard
Markieff Morris
Jared Dudley
Dion Waiters
J.R. Smith

Prediction: 

I think the Lakers will try to bring back Howard and Markieff Morris, and will take considerable time to do so to fortify their bench for the upcoming season.  Dudley, Waiters, and Smith will likely be much less of a priority, as those players were not integral to their postseason run as they didn’t play much in the playoffs, and while they may provide a solid veteran presence in the locker room, the Lakers probably wouldn’t be hit hard if they choose to let the latter three go. 

Players that have a player option:
Anthony Davis
Rajon Rondo
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
JaVale McGee
Avery Bradley

Prediction:
Players who may likely opt in:

Caldwell-Pope, McGee, and Bradley would be making around market value if they opt in, and I think they would do so since they would probably want to help the Lakers win another championship.

Players who may likely opt out:
Rajon Rondo would stand to make just $2.6 million if he opts in to his contract, according to Spotrac, so I doubt he will pick up his option.  Therefore, I am predicting that he will opt out to head to free agency, so it will be uncertain if he will play for the Lakers for the 2020-21 season.  Plus, Rondo has won 2 titles already, one with the 2008 Celtics, and one this year with the Lakers, so he may want a significant payday for his strong playoff performance and solid season with the Lakers this year.

Players who have outed out:
Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis has proven to be a legitimate superstar, and perhaps the second best player in all of the NBA behind LeBron James, and he and James have proven to be a terrific 1-2 combo in this league. The Los Angeles Lakers should do everything they can to re-sign Anthony Davis, because LeBron and AD could help the Lakers dominate and win more titles together if the Lakers can re-sign Anthony Davis via free agency.

Projected Players Cut from Next Season’s Roster:
None

2020 NBA Draft Picks:
#28 None. (The 28th overall pick is going to Oklahoma City via trade)

The Lakers intend to acquire Dennis Schroder from the Thunder for Danny Green and the 28th overall pick, sources tell @wojespn.

The deal can be formally agreed to in principle Monday. pic.twitter.com/7Qc6CKGpwP

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 15, 2020

Projected Offseason Plan for the Lakers:

The Los Angeles Lakers are fresh off their 2020 NBA championship win, but now they’ll be busy trying to get their team back together to make another run for the title to defend it.  They’ll likely try to re-sign all of the vital players that helped them win in 2020. The most important part of their offseason plan is that they need to re-sign Anthony Davis, and they should offer him a full, max contract to try to get him back. Getting AD to come back should be on the Lakers’ first, second, and third priority on their list, and they need Anthony Davis to come back to fortify themselves as premier contenders for the 2021 NBA title.

They’ll also probably look to try to keep both Dwight Howard and Markieff Morris to help their bench stay strong for next season.  If Rajon Rondo opts out and hits free agency, that could weaken their bench significantly, and the Lakers will likely be unable to pay him since they are capped out and don’t have much cap space to spend.

Right now, they may be looking at players that can play off of LeBron and Anthony Davis, which may be players that can shoot and defend, and they could also target available point guards that could be groomed to replace Rondo if he opts out.  Therefore, a scoring minded point guard that could contribute off the bench could be something they may target, and they have since decided to acquire Oklahoma City Thunder’s guard, Dennis Schroder via trade.

Expected Regular-Season Record in 2021*: 47-25, 1^st seed in the Western Conference

In this scenario, the 2021 Los Angeles Lakers would play the winner of the play-in game between the 8^th seeded Golden State Warriors and the 9^th seeded Phoenix Suns in the 2021 NBA playoffs.

Expected 2021 Season Outcome: 
The 2021 Los Angeles Lakers are currently projected to be the top seed in the Western Conference.  Their win total is a little lower than expected, as they’ll be saving their best for the postseason, and so they may choose to rest some of the players in some games, while other teams like the Milwaukee Bucks will probably be on the prowl to try to get the best regular season record.

The Western Conference will be just as fierce and competitive as it has been in previous seasons, but with the vast talent, strong coaching, and championship pedigree, the Los Angeles Lakers are the clear favorites right now to win the 2021 NBA title.

(* – The asterisk denotes that the expected regular season win total is adjusted for the 72-game schedule that the NBA will play for the 2020-21 season.  The initial projection for the Lakers was for them to get 53 wins in an 82-game season.  Also, the projected record does not take into account for the NBA draft or free agency, as those events have not happened yet.

In addition, the above projected win totals were when the Lakers had Danny Green, and was prior to the trade happening today on November 15th.)

In case if you need the rubric for my player rating system of projecting NBA players for the 2020-21 season, here is the link. In addition, Basketball-Reference, RealGM, and Spotrac were vital information sites that I used to look at player and team statistics, as well as contract information.

Side note: Also, the letter grades attached to the player name was my grade for their 2019-20 season, as it is my judgment of their performance and whether or not they met or exceeded my expectations, and didn’t have much bearing on my projection of how they will perform for the 2020-21 NBA season.

Thank you for reading my grades and review of the 2019-20 Los Angeles Lakers. There are two key dates to keep track of. The 2020 NBA Draft starts on November 18th, and free agency begins on November 20th. Thanks for reading.