Frank Vogel: Lakers Haven't Set Starting Lineup Amid LeBron at PG Rumors

LeBron James excels at all five positions, but Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel pumped the breaks on the three-time NBA champion starting at point guard next season.  

"Everybody's sort of pieced together our starting lineup. There is no decisions made on our starting lineup," Vogel said while at Las Vegas Summer League on Wednesday night, per House of Highlights' Chris Montano. "No imminent plan to start LeBron at the point guard spot. A lot of different lineups and combinations have been discussed, but it's really way too early for any of that."

Monday, Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes reported that the Lakers were headed into the new season "with the intention" of starting James at the 1. 

"James, 34, will be entering his 17th NBA season and is prepared to become the floor general in an effort to maximize a roster that's suddenly built to contend for a championship with the addition of All-Star forward Anthony Davis and a few complementary pieces," Haynes wrote.

In order to acquire Davis, L.A. traded Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram and three first-round picks to the New Orleans Pelicans. The team did re-sign veteran point guard Rajon Rondo, though.

ESPN's Marc J. Spears responded to Haynes' report on Tuesday's episode of The Jump and added what the ramifications could be if James were to step in ahead of Rondo as the official starter: 

"I just worry for him as far as energy-wise. How quickly tired would he get? You're gonna have to go to Rondo or Quinn [Cook] really fast. Sounds good until you have to do it, and they gotta load management him as well. In spurts, yes. Maybe fourth quarter, yes. To start the game? I don't know if that's the best idea."

To Spears' point, James is coming off the first major injury of his NBA career. The 15-time All-Star suffered a strained left groin in December that kept him out until Jan. 31 and lingered throughout the season. If the Lakers want to maximize this window with James and Davis, they can't risk another significant injury to the face of their franchise.

The assumption is that L.A. will use Rondo at point guard to start games. When Ball went down with a season-ending ankle injury in January, Rondo started in his place and opened 29 games overall. 

However, Rondo is 33 years old, and a combination of players will likely get the job done during the coming campaign.