Los Angeles Lakers have been very successful this offseason as they have executed their plans very well. The team wanted to keep the core together, and that’s what they did. They had a pretty miraculous turnaround last year. But things changed after a very successful mid-season trade before the February deadline. The 17-time champions will need LeBron James and Anthony Davis to stay healthy throughout the long and strenuous season in 2023-24.
Now, they are focusing on strengthening their reserve bench as much as possible. After an excellent job in the offseason, the Lakers have plenty of options. They have Rui Hachimura, Jaxson Hayes, Cam Reddish, and Max Christie in their reserve. Hachimura can play as the reserve for Anthony Davis. But it is going to be hard to choose for LeBron’s reserve. Moreover, Reddish and Christie are both ready to prove themselves worthy to be the prime reserves of LeBron James.
Max Christie Is A Viable Option For Being The Prime Reserve Of LeBron James
Moreover, Max Christie made a promising start to the last edition, especially in the first half of the season. In 41 games, he had an average of 3.1 points and 1.8 rebounds. Moreover, Max Christie was utilizing the rotation times well in the previous season. However, things fell apart for Christie after mid-season trades when Malik Beasley and Lonnie Walker IV joined the roster. The Lakers sidelined him a bit. He became a rotational piece favoring Beasley and Walker. However, he is just 20 years old and will get his fair share to prove himself.
Moreover, Lonnie Walker and Malik Beasley are not part of the Lakers anymore. Hence, the 6’6 swingman is bound to get his chance. According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the entry of Cam Reddish can play a roadblock for Max Christie. However, Christie is a better option for the Lakers, seeing his current strength and skills. Moreover, Christie is a better defender and shooter than Reddish. On top of that, the swingman from Michigan State University has more upside. Hence, Christie can be the next prime reserve for LeBron James.
Lakers Need Anthony Davis & LeBron James To Stay Fit And Fine In 2023-24
The LA side had a horrible start to the 2022-23 season; in mid-February, they got new players who brought balance to the roster. Since then, the Lakers had been unstoppable until they met the Denver Nuggets. They reached the Western Conference Finals. Moreover, it looked like they were on their way to clinch the 18th title. But the eventual champions had other plans in their minds. It was a battle between the league’s best defensive side Vs. the best offensive side.
With some quality new young players alongside him, Anthony Davis transformed the Lakers into the strongest defense of the season. However, it was too hard for them to stop the Nuggets. Nevertheless, the front office has faith in the new roster that they can win the title next season. That’s why the Lakers made sure they have enough depth in their roster to stay strong and healthy throughout the season. Most importantly, the Lakers were looking for a big man who could take some pressure off Anthony Davis. Now the Lakers are also planning to find a perfect reserve for LeBron James. After all, they are the top two stars of the team.