Lakers 2023 roster grades
Taking a look at each players performance and contribution to this years Lakers team
With the Lakers entering the offseason after getting swept by the Denver Nuggets, we take a look at some individual performances to see who had the most impact on this Lakers team or not.
LeBron James: A
LeBron James is obviously one of the best players on the team, and to see him playing at this level at the age of 38 is still stunning and impressive to see. James had to carry the load before the trade deadline, which really slowed him down a couple of times and made him injury-prone several times before the All-Star break. Once the new additions joined the team, James did not have to worry about carrying the team to victory and was able to rely on his teammates.
With his recent comments about a possible retirement and requiring surgery in the offseason after playing with a torn tendon in his foot, only time will tell what his future with this team and the NBA will look like.
Anthony Davis: A+
Anthony Davis is an absolutely dominant force on both ends of the court. His offense is unstoppable when he is feeling great, and his defense is on a whole different level. Blocking shots and bullying his matchup, Davis is a force to be reckoned with.
Even though Davis missed a significant amount of time this season, he was a huge factor when he was on the court. Davis was the best defensive player in the playoffs and should be the Lakers’ first option on offense moving forward. His future with the Lakers is bright, and the anticipation for next season will be high.
Austin Reaves: B+
Who would have thought that a second-year undrafted player would be making such a huge impact on this Lakers squad? Austin Reaves has been making his name known in his sophomore year in the NBA and is looking to continue that next season.
He has proven that he can be reliable for this Lakers team and can be helpful during the playoffs. Reaves is expected to draw potential offer sheets from several teams with cap space this summer and the Lakers do intend to match any offer he receives.
D’Angelo Russell: B
D’Angelo Russell’s second stint with the team that drafted him in 2015 has been a huge success. Russell perfectly fits with LeBron James and Anthony Davis and has been a huge factor for the team during the regular season. In the playoffs, he started to become very inconsistent, Russell can be quiet at times, like in the series against the Memphis Grizzlies, but found his groove against the Golden State Warriors.
Unfortunately, in the Western Conference Finals, it was not looking good for Russell. He was really struggling on both ends of the court, which eventually led to Russell being benched in game four.
His future with the team is now in jeopardy due to his very poor performance in the Western Conference Finals.
Rui Hachimura: B+
When Rui Hachimura was traded to the Lakers, many fans were really excited to see what he could do for this Lakers team. He was the wing that the team desperately needed and a perfect backup for LeBron James. Unfortunately, he had a very slow and rough start in the regular season, but Hachimura is the perfect example of getting hot at the right time.
Hachimura was a huge factor in the Lakers’ playoff run and led the team to many victories. Hachimura has called his time in Los Angeles “one of the best moments in my life” and the Lakers are ready to match any offers for Hachimura this upcoming offseason.
Dennis Schroder: B
Dennis Schroder’s second stint with the Lakers has been more memorable than his first time with the team back in the 2020–21 season. Schroder has shown that he is willing to do anything for this team, and he has shown that on many occasions.
Schroder’s defense is on another level, and he is really clutch when the team needs him to be. However, he was quiet during the playoffs and brought the team down on several occasions.
Regardless of what happened, he was a great backup for D’Angelo Russell and is willing to sacrifice for the team. Schroder is a free agent this summer, and his future with the team is uncertain at this moment.
Jarred Vanderbilt: B+
Jarred Vanderbilt is a defensive monster and is a top-three defender on this Lakers team. Vanderbilt established himself when he first joined the team and made his defensive presence very clear to the rest of the league. He can figure out who his matchup is and lock them down.
Even though his defense is great, Vanderbilt’s offense is not that great. He will have short bursts of scoring every once in a while, but his offense is not what he is known for. The Lakers do plan on exercising Vanderbilt’s team option this offseason.
Lonnie Walker IV: B
Lonnie Walker IV was the hidden gem of this Lakers squad and the perfect example of staying ready. Before the trade deadline, he was in the rotation a lot and performed really well, but once D’Angelo Russell joined the team and Dennis Schroder got more minutes, he fell out of the rotation.
Head coach Darvin Ham gave Walker IV another chance in the second round of the playoffs against the Golden State Warriors. Game four, or the “Lonnie Walker game,” is where Walker IV shined the brightest, he became vital to the Lakers’ victory in that game and was ready to keep on going.
With the offseason coming closer, his future with the team is very uncertain.
Malik Beasley: C
When Malik Beasley joined the team after the trade deadline, there were really high expectations because he was the shooter that the team really needed. But once Beasley joined the team, he began to struggle from beyond the arc and was clearly having trouble finding his shot. Once the season was coming to a close and the playoffs began, Beasley found his way out of the rotation.
Wenyen Gabriel: C
Wenyen Gabriel is a great backup center, and he really shined pre-trade deadline with the rotation of Anthony Davis and Thomas Bryant. However, he fell out of the rotation with the addition of Mo Bamba and did not get much playing time in the playoffs.
Gabriel was really helpful for the Lakers last season, and he has his moments this season. He is set to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
Mo Bamba: C
Another great backup center for Anthony Davis and the Lakers team, Mo Bamba was what the Lakers needed for their big man depth. However, he does get into foul trouble a lot and likes to shoot from the three-point line, Ever since Bamba got injured towards the end of the season, he was not able to join the team on the court for the playoffs and was almost cleared for game four of the Western Conference Finals.
Troy Brown Jr: C-
The Lakers front office was hoping to see some shooting from Troy Brown Jr. but unfortunately, he is very inconsistent. Brown Jr. did not have that much of an impact whenever he was starting or coming off the bench in the regular season and would go from having an off night for one game to having a decent game the next. He was in the rotation a lot before the trade deadline until he eventually fell out of the rotation once the newcomers joined the team.
Not entirely sure whether or not he will rejoin the team next season or will most likely sign somewhere else.
Max Christie: C+
Even though he does not get that many minutes with the Lakers, Max Christie is a star in the making. Whenever Christie is not with the South Bay Lakers G League team, he makes the most of his minutes. There is not that much to say about Christie’s game at the moment, but there is hope to see a lot more of him next season.
Tristian Thompson: C
Many were questioning why the Lakers signed Tristian Thompson for the playoffs, as they speculated that he would not see that many minutes and take on the role of the locker room guy. However, he did get to play in the Western Conference Finals, and he showed a lot of potential. Thompson is going to be an unrestricted free agent, and many fans are hoping to see Thompson return to the team and work out a deal.