Much to the chagrin of many fans, LeBron James is skipping the Preseason opener for the Lakers against the Warriors. However, on the bright side, he is 100% healthy and is just managing his workload. After 20 seasons in the league, he doesn’t need preseason to get back in shape. His workouts and training camp have already brought him into game shape. Since this is preseason, even disappointed fans wouldn’t be down in the dumps completely because he is still aiming for some Preseason games. After, it is the Regular Season where the real deal begins.

As we get closer to the real deal, the Lakers’ starting lineup has been in center. In that wake, an insider speculates who will start alongside LBJ and Anthony Davis.

How will the Lakers utilize their depth around LeBron James?

The Athletic’s Jovan Buhan joined Jason Timpf on The Volume’s show Hoops Tonight. On the show, Timpf alluded to Buhan’s idea of forming two duos. One between D’Angelo Russell and Jarred Vanderbilt, the other between Gabe Vincent and Rui Hachimura. In this vein, Timpf asked Buhan, ”Do you think those pairings are going to have to stay together, do you think Darvin Ham will go for someone different on three spot? After four days of practice, is there any intel as to who’s on the lead for that three spot with the perimeter defense issue?”

Admitting that it is a big question for the Lakers, Buhan hinted that the team may be looking for a “wild card” for that spot. He stated, ”From my understanding, Rui, Vando, and Taurean Prince. Taurean Prince being a dark horse because of his three-point shooting. Around average defensively, not gonna kill you on that end. Not necessarily a plus, the way Vando or Rui can be potentially a bigger match-up as we saw him defending Jokic in the Playoffs”.

Speculating further, he added,” With DLo starting, it feels Vando is getting the edge a bit in the camp so far”. The insider also alluded to the fact that Rui was seen as a favorite for the three spot before the camp began.

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So he also admitted that there is some “mixed messaging going on”. His guess is as good as anyone’s. 

Hachimura or Vanderbilt at the three?

The Athletic’s journalist believes that the team may start with Russell and the newly-extended Vanderbilt. Then they may finish with Gabe and Hachimura, as Timpf pointed out earlier.

He gave his own perspective and stated, ”Personally, I’d start Rui“, calling him “the best blend of offense and defense” over Prince and Vanderbilt. Therefore. the opening start lineup can be D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura/Jarred Vanderbilt, and Anthony Davis. 

Let us see who nabs the spot between Rui and Vando.

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