Lakers’ upgrade at point guard: James
He’ll start and work with seven guards including Bradley, the newest addition.
LeBron James will be the starting point guard for the Lakers next season.
It’s a role new coach Frank Vogel is on board with, according to people not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
The 6-foot-8 James will initiate the Lakers’ offense similarly to the way Hall of Fame forward Scottie Pippen ran the offense for the Chicago Bulls when they won six NBA titles in eight seasons in the 1990s.
It’s not really a new role for James, as he has been a ball-dominant player his entire career and a willing passer who has averaged 7.2 assists.
James averaged 27.4 points and 8.3 assists a game with the Lakers last season. He averaged a career-high 9.1 assists the previous season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Lakers probably will start Danny Green in the backcourt and will have many options with their surplus of guards, including Avery Bradley, who on Monday agreed to a two-year contract for $9.7 million, according to his agent, Bill Duffy of BDA Sports.
Bradley, who cleared waivers Monday, will sign with a salary-cap exception and the second year is a player option, Duffy said. The 6foot-2 veteran has started for four teams in his nineyear career.
Bradley, 28, has made his mark as an outstanding oneon-one defender. He was selected to the NBA’s all-defensive team in 2016 and the second team in 2013 while playing for Boston.
Bradley started 49 games last season with the Clippers, averaging 8.2 points and shooting 33.7% from three-point range, but struggled with injuries. After he was dealt to Memphis at the trade deadline, he averaged 16.1 points in 14 starts and shot 38.4% from three-point range.
He is a career 36.4% three-point shooter.
Bradley joins returning Lakers guards Rajon Rondo, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Alex Caruso and newcomers Green, Troy Daniels and Quinn Cook.
The Lakers now have a 14man roster, one short of the NBA maximum.