Projecting Lakers' Depth Chart, Rotation After 2024 NBA Free Agency

The 2024 NBA offseason is winding down.

It has not been a transformational one for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Sure, they made a coaching change (Darvin Ham out, JJ Redick in) and made a couple of draft picks (Dalton Knecht at No. 17, Bronny James at No. 55), but that's pretty much it. So far, at least.

Maybe the Lakers change things up yet, but for now let's take stock of the roster with projections on their depth chart and rotation for next season.

Depth Chart

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LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 8: Anthony Davis #3 high fives Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the game against the Denver Nuggets on February 8, 2024 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

Point Guard

D'Angelo Russell

Gabe Vincent

Jalen Hood-Schifino

Bronny James

Shooting Guard

Austin Reaves

Max Christie

Small Forward

LeBron James

Dalton Knecht

Cam Reddish

Maxwell Lewis

Power Forward

Rui Hachimura

Jarred Vanderbilt

Center

Anthony Davis

Jaxson Hayes

Christian Wood

Rotation

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LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: Bronny James Jr. #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the game on July 18, 2024 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images)

While there aren't many new faces to evaluate, there are some unanswered questions about this club.

Let's start at point guard. D'Angelo Russell is the incumbent starter and someone who could potentially benefit from Redick's desire to increase the volume of L.A.'s perimeter attack. Then again, a healthy Gabe Vincent could be a threat for big playing time if his three-point shot falls at a high enough clip, since he's the far superior defensive stopper to Russell.

While Bronny James figures to log serious mileage in the G League, it's tough to tell where (if anywhere) Jalen Hood-Schifino fits. He was last summer's 17th pick, but he mostly handled mop-up duties as a rookie. Perhaps he'll be resigned to a similar fate this season, but it would seemingly behoove the Lakers to get him more exposure—either to get him comfortable or perhaps to increase his value as a trade sweetener.

Starting roles and floor time should be relatively secure for LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura, leaving the wiggle-room maneuvering to the role players.

Is Max Christie ready for a role expansion? Can Knecht step into consistent floor time? Will Jared Vanderbilt's defense help him push for more playing time? Does Redick prefer Jaxson Hayes or Christian Wood for the reserve minutes behind Davis? And is there a path to regular playing time for either of Cam Reddish or Maxwell Lewis? Barring additional changes, those are the tallest tasks for Redick to solve.

What's Left to Sort Out

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EL SEGUNDO, CA - JUNE 24: General Manager Rob Pelinka and new Head Coach JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers address the media during a press conference on June 24, 2024 at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

Last season, the Lakers had to escape the play-in tournament just to secure their playoff spot. And their postseason run didn't reach beyond the opening round, where they were knocked off by the defending champion Denver Nuggets in just five games.

It's hard to imagine, then, that an offseason this quiet is what L.A. needs to keep pace in the perpetually improving Western Conference.

Could a trade be coming at some point, then? Sure, but the question is when—and of what magnitude. Is there a sizable swap that makes sense and delivers someone like Lauri Markkanen, Brandon Ingram or Trae Young? Or would the Lakers be content working more along the margins to beef up their supporting cast?

For now, the plan is "to remain patient," per The Athletic's Jovan Buha. That's a somewhat defensible strategy, as the Lakers can't force a trade if the right option isn't available. Then again, the longer they wait to broker a deal, the farther they could fall behind the best in the West.

L.A. faces one of the league's most extreme win-right-now urgencies with LeBron James approaching his age-40 season. This roster doesn't necessarily reflect that urgency right now, but perhaps that will change—ideally, sooner than later.