The Los Angeles Lakers are going to keep the ball in the hands of their best players next season, reportedly starting LeBron James at point guard to begin the year.
Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported Monday the team’s plans to have James and recently signed Danny Green as the starting backcourt for 2018-19.
James has mostly lined up as a forward in his career, but he has sparingly played point guard and has always been an elite passer, averaging 7.2 assists per game in the NBA.
He has been even better in this area as of late, averaging 8.8 assists per game over the past three years including 8.3 per game last year with the Lakers. The move could be especially beneficial for the 34-year-old as he looks toward the future:
LeBron James is one of the most elite playmakers in the NBA. I’ve long thought the final chapter of his career would be playing as a pass-first point guard. This can extend his service time by several years and reduce the overall wear-and-tear and physical toll on his body.
Meanwhile, the Lakers can rely on Anthony Davis and Kyle Kuzma in the frontcourt plus DeMarcus Cousins or JaVale McGee at center.
This helps maximize the talent on the floor at all times while keeping James heavily involved in the offense both as a scorer and passer.
There could be some concern on the defensive end, but Green is a plus-defender on the perimeter as is Avery Bradley, who is expected to sign once he clears waivers, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Either of these players can take on smaller guards if needed, leaving the 6’8″ James to dominate on the offensive end.
Courtesy: Bleacher Report
