Lakers Roster: Role Players Who Will Determine Championship Hopes

The Lakers' "Big Four" will receive most of the buzz entering next year's NBA season, but the play of Los Angeles' role players will determine their championship hopes.

Play ranging from above-average to spectacular is expected from the likes of Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard next season. Play from guys like Devin Ebanks, Jordan Hill and a pair of backup point guards is much tougher to anticipate, but players like this will make the difference.

It's easy to examine star players, and it's obvious that if they don't perform to their potential the Lakers have no chance of hoisting the NBA championship trophy next season, but role players are what separate the good teams from the elite.

Let's take a look at which Laker "glue" guys will determine their collective fate next season.

Devin Ebanks

Ebanks has the size to play the 3 and the agility to play the 2. His lanky 6'9'' frame gives him an advantage on the glass, and he relentlessly pursues the ball on both ends of the floor.

The Lakers have a lot of things, but quality young players aren't necessarily a part of that. Ebanks brings experience (44 games in two seasons) to the Laker lineup, and his production leaves room for optimism. He averaged four points per game last season.

Los Angeles is going to rely on Metta World Peace and Antawn Jamison to handle primary duties at small forward, but Ebanks will play a larger role than expected. His energetic mentality on both ends of the floor will be a tremendous boost to the Laker rotation.

Ebanks officially returned to the Lakers on Monday, and his impact will be larger than expected. If he's given the minutes, he will be a difference-maker next season.

Jordan Hill

Howard's long-term health is still murky following back surgery this offseason. He may be healthy at the start of the season, but who says it's going to stay that way?

That's where Jordan Hill comes in. The 6'10'' backup center averaged five points and 4.8 rebounds in 14 minutes per game last season. He made the best of his limited action, and there's no reason to believe he wouldn't do it again this season. 

In the playoffs last year he was given 18 minutes per game, and his production jumped accordingly. In other words, Hill already knows how to be a valuable role player on a contending team.

Howard may stay healthy all season, but using Hill is a good idea for Mike Brown. He's an athletic center who plays with energy on both ends of the floor.

No one is going to write Hill's name on an NBA All-Star ballot next season, but his presence will be a valuable part of Los Angeles' frontcourt rotation.

Steve Blake and Chris Duhon

I'm putting these two together because they are one and the same for me. Neither player will be expected to do much behind Steve Nash, but Nash has a ton of miles on his 38-year-old legs.

Other players will need to spell him, and they must do a good job. Duhon and Blake will split those duties with Darius Morris being peppered in there somewhere as well.

Duhon doesn't seem like a major part of the Howard trade, but he's a veteran presence nonetheless. He shot a career-high 42 percent from beyond the arc last season, and his perimeter presence will spread the floor.

Blake's outside shooting has declined in recent years, but he's been with Los Angeles since 2010. He's familiar with the atmosphere, and he's a stable option in the backcourt.

Duhon and Blake don't stand out by themselves, but they form a solid backup rotation when you put them together. Nash is excellent, but his age has to be at least a small concern.

Look for both of these players to receive valuable minutes next season. By the time the playoffs roll around, and Nash has logged more miles, expect their role to be even more important.