Could Shabazz Napier take over in the Lakers' backcourt?
It was always one of the underlying goals of the Los Angeles Lakers to find a more instinctive passer to challenge TJ McConnell for the starting spot at PG. Simultaneously, O.J. Mayo, heralded as one of the biggest bargains in free agency last offseason when he signed a 3 year, $2.9 million a year deal, was a player the team was ready to move when the right offer came along. Those two coincided a few days after the deal that sent out Cliff "Cliffy" Alexander and a second round pick for Omer Asik in a 3 way. This time, another Timberwolf transformed into a Laker - a two team swap that shipped Mayo and the Lakers' remaining second round picks for 25 year old impending RFA Shabazz Napier.
Minnesota initiated trade talks, asking about Mayo and originally offered Kendrick Perkins' expiring contract. The stats-minded Lakers said no, and after neither side was really interested in seeing raw, but promising Jaylen Brown swap uniforms, the Lakers said they were interested in Napier, and were willing and expecting to pay more than Mayo. The T-Wolves countered with wanting a high 2nd, and the Lakers offered both Milwaukee's 2nd this year and their own 2020 2nd, quickly sealing the deal.
Napier's Numbers
Last Season: 12.2 points, 5.4 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals - 2.5 A/TO ratio - 40.6% shooting (64.6/42.6/33.5) - 68.2% DSR, 2.4 TOFC- 0.91 PA/SF
This Season: 11.7 points, 4.3 assists, 2.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals - 1.7 A/TO ratio - 37.5% shooting (82.4/45.2/23.6) - 83.5% DSR, 2.3 TOFC, 0.83 PA/SF
The story here is that Napier is an excellent disruptive force on defense, forcing turnovers and posting a far better than expected PA/SF ratio for what most scouts consider his defensive ability to be. While not the most gifted handler in the world, his passing ability represents a significant upgrade, and many observers have remarked that he reminds them of "a much better shooting Rajon Rondo, whom the Lakers signed to a max contract before his year-long drug suspension. Nobody's paid attention to Shabazz's shooting form in Minnesota, but they'll do that in Los Angeles, and he could be a really exciting player to watch once that development happens."
The question is, where does Napier go? A combo 6th man off the bench? A starting spot in the lineup? There's a number of possibilities in play, but more on that later.
O.J. Mayo is taking his 3 point gunning game to Minnesota
A bargain signing and 3 point gunner specialist, O.J. Mayo was initially the starting SG for the Lakers last season, but eventually fell out of favor once Michael Carter-Williams arrived on the scene, but still netted 11.8 points and 39.5% from downtown with 32 starts. He needs to lose weight to become a more effective drive stopper, but that could happen next training camp as he prepares for his Year 30 season. This year, he was largely forced our of the rotation by the arrival of Nik Stauskas and the surprising play of C.J. Fair.
Numerous times asked about the sniper last season and this summer, but most offers were of the expiring and 2nd round picks variety - deals the Lakers uniformly rejected, because they felt Mayo's scoring/3 point gunning/excellent contract were worth more than those pittances. And so they waited, patiently biding their time for the right situation. And so it's arrived - a mirror image of the young, promising prospect for a proven veteran deal that they just made in acquiring Asik.
DeMar DeRozan may get starter level minutes off the bench
With the failure to get the new lineup and rotation submitted in a close home loss to the Celtics (3-10 at the Staples Center), and the hot play of Golden State, the Lakers will shift into next year mode yet again, working on correcting Shabazz Napier's mechanics and introducing what one Lakers staff jokingly called, "the Hot Girl Lineup - small ass in the back, big tits in the front", with Napier and TJ McConnell at PG and SG, Nik Stauskas at the 3, Giannis Antetokounmpo at PF, and Omer Asik at C. Napier and McConnell would take all the minutes at PG, freeing up space for raw rookie Devin Booker to get developmental minutes, and DeMar DeRozan playing starter minutes off the bench at SG, SF, and PF. Backup center would go to Rudy Gobert, unless the wheels completely fall off, upon which Cristiano Felicio would take over.
There's also going to be a dramatic shift in philosophy. The Dribble Drive system will stay intact, but the Lakers will scale back their defensive intensity and go to a full court pressure strategy to take advantage of Napier and McConnell's stealing talents, as well as the better than expected for post players' thievery in the frontcourt. "I'm not saying it'll work," said a scout on condition of anonymity, "But at this point, it's worth a shot - that also means Asik will have an easier time staying on the court."
If the expected freefall happens (Napier's present efficiency issues will disrupt the Lakers' offense), Asik's stay in purple and gold could be quite short, and a lot of teams could be fighting over Gobert as the Lakers sell off players for the discounted rates of just expirings - freeing up cap to pursue Greg Monroe or even attempt to bring Walter Tavares back to town on large money deals. Any such fire sales would be dependent on Asik being moved, however.
"I know we keep saying this," said one source, "But next year is really where I think we take that leap to the playoffs. We've tried the last couple seasons, and it just hasn't panned out. But we like what we're building here."
2020, 2023, 2027, 2035
