JJ Redick and the Los Angeles Lakers have officially begun the process of reestablishing the prominence of one of the NBA's marquee franchises. Fresh off of a 47-win season and a first-round exit, the Lakers are looking to take a step toward contending while LeBron James is still playing at an All-NBA level.
With the starting lineup locked in, the Lakers will now look to reserves to prove that they're up to the task of leading an ideally improved second unit.
Los Angeles' bench ranked among the worst in the NBA in 2023-24, primarily on the offensive end of the floor. It ranked No. 28 in points and three-point field goals made, and checked in at No. 23 in three-point field goal percentage.
Having key reserves Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent for a combined 40 games certainly didn't help, but it's worth noting that neither are known for their three-point shooting.
In 2024-25, Vanderbilt and Vincent will be turned to for contributions at guard and forward. Three positions remain along the second unit, however, with voids to be filled, specific skill sets required, and a number of players competing for limited minutes.
With the door open for key reserves to step up and thrive alongside the established veterans, training camp could be a launching pad for multiple promising careers.
1. Max Christie
The Lakers have one of the most dynamic backcourts in the NBA with starters Austin Reaves and D'Angelo Russell. Russell is an elite three-point shooter and dynamic shot-creator who can go off without a moment's notice, while Reaves is one of the most skilled isolation scorers south of the All-Star line.
Neither player is known for their defense, however, which could open the door for Max Christie to not only thrive with the second unit, but earn minutes alongside the starters.
Christie enters training camp as the Lakers' most intriguing option as far as developing a 3-and-D guard is concerned. It's an essential archetype to fill in the modern NBA, especially with the way role players are utilized in situational shot creation roles.
Christie's size, length, and energy on defense bodes well for his potential emergence from training camp as the defensive specialist the team needs.
Christie's three-point shooting also projects to be a strength. He boasts a career mark of 37.8 percent through two NBA seasons, and knocked down 39.4 percent of his catch-and-shoot threes in 2024-25—thus implying that he'll be able to excel in a vital off-ball role.
Los Angeles re-signed Christie on a four-year, $32 million contract earlier this summer, and he'll have every chance to prove why at training camp.
2. Jaxson Hayes
In a perfect world, the Lakers would be at full strength as they enter training camp. Injuries would be healed and any outstanding issues would've been resolved by now, specifically at the painfully thin center position behind Anthony Davis.
Instead, Christian Wood is coming off of a recent arthroscopic knee surgery that has left the door wide open for another player to step into the backup center role.
Enter Jaxson Hayes.
Hayes was selected at No. 8 overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, but has struggled to secure consistent playing time during his five-year career. His opportunities peaked in 2021-22, when he played a career-high 20.0 minutes per game and averaged 9.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.6 offensive boards.
Hayes played just 12.5 minutes per game this past season with the Lakers, however, and is generally expected to be the third center on the depth chart after Davis and Wood in 2024-25.
With Wood expected to miss the first few weeks of the 2024-25 regular season, however, Hayes could make a lasting impression. If he's able to crash the offensive glass and help anchor the defensive interior, he could prove himself inexpendable at an essential position.
Training camp will be the first opportunity for Hayes, who's still just 24 years of age, to capitalize on this opportunity to change the narrative of his career.
3. Dalton Knecht
The Lakers struck gold at the 2024 NBA Draft by selecting projected top-10 pick Dalton Knecht at No. 17 overall. The incoming rookie will face the same early struggles that all rookies encounter, but that doesn't mean he'll be unable to provide immediate value.
Redick has heralded Knecht as having a jump shot that ranks in the top one percent of NBA players, and the Lakers have few needs as strong as that of an elite three-point shooter along the wings.
Los Angeles finished the 2023-24 regular season at No. 24 in three-point field goals made and No. 28 in three-point field goals attempted. It was actually one of the top 10 teams in the Association in three-point field goal percentage, but volume was a consistent issue.
It's easy to say that the Lakers will simply shoot more threes in 2024-25, as Redick intends for them to, but having a true marksman on the court is an essential aspect of improvement in that regard.
Russell is an elite three-point shooter, but having a tall wing who can move without the ball and get themselves open is a critical strength in the modern NBA. Knecht projects to qualify as such at 6'5.25" without shoes, with a high release point and the fluid athleticism to get himself open.
Rui Hachimura and LeBron James are locked in as starters, and Jarred Vanderbilt will play big minutes himself, but Knecht's potentially elite outside shot could make him a key figure in the rotation in 2024-25.
