Three under-the-radar Lakers to look at within the second half of the season

Regardless of the famous person pairing of LeBron James and Luka Doncic, together with the emergence of Austin Reaves, the Los Angeles Lakers have a number of obvious points that put a severe playoff run into query. Though they lead the league in field-goal proportion at 49.9%, the Lakers have struggled to attach from past the arc, taking pictures 34.9%, which ranks nineteenth within the NBA. 

The staff has seemed to be top-heavy, with the bench rating final within the league in scoring. With James, Doncic and Reaves all lacking prolonged time this season, that imbalance may grow to be a priority if the Lakers’ core trio cannot keep wholesome.

In a tightly packed Western Convention race, many speculated that the Purple and Gold would aggressively pursue a three-and-D position participant to handle these gaps and push for a better playoff seed. 

Regardless of making just a few strikes on the commerce deadline, the Lakers should still have the belongings to assist handle a few of their flaws and push for a deep postseason run.

Listed here are three Lakers gamers who may make an influence down the stretch:

Luke Kennard

Kennard, was the one participant Los Angeles acquired on the deadline. He leads the NBA in three-point field-goal proportion and will present a major increase off the bench. 

Though he will not be an elite defender, if Kennard can proceed to shoot lights-out from vary, it ought to assist house the ground and create alternatives for others to make performs.

Early into his stint with the Purple and Gold, he seems to be choosing up proper the place he left off, taking pictures 50% from three-point vary in his first two video games with the Lakers.

Kobe Bufkin

Following a quick 10-day stint with the Purple and Gold, Bufkin was reassigned to the South Bay Lakers, leaving his subsequent transfer unsure. Whereas he appeared in 4 video games, he solely logged prolonged minutes in two. Regardless of the restricted return, Los Angeles’ choice to signal him to a two-year contract might point out that the group believes he may play a bigger position shifting ahead.

Within the G League, Bufkin proved he was a succesful scorer, main the league with 27.7 factors per recreation. He additionally contributed on the defensive finish, averaging 1.5 steals and 1.2 blocks. If Bufkin can crack the rotation, his talent set may present added worth.