Lakers News: Insider Thinks It's Time For LA To Bench Re-Signed Starter

Would a move to the bench make sense for the Lakers?

This summer has been a very solid one for your Los Angeles Lakers. They were able to resign more of the core from last season, while also upgrading the roster around the edges.

It’s a credit to what General Manager Rob Pelinka has built with the Lakers, and how serious they are about winning another title. This version of the team has the look of a title contender, but there are still some questions that surround them.

One of those is what they will do with recently re-signed point guard D’Angelo Russell. His play in the Western Conference Finals last season was atrocious and has led many around the game to wonder what the future holds. 

He rejoined the Lakers this summer on a two-year deal, but many believe that the team will look to move him at the trade deadline.

Now, with the team signing point guard Gabe Vincent as well, his role remains a mystery. But one insider believes that they have the answer to any issues for the Lakers. 

Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report believes that Russell should be coming off the bench this season for the Lakers.

“Of the two, Russell has the higher ceiling but also the lower floor. In a starting lineup that already features LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves, the Lakers would be better off with Vincent's steady hand at point guard.”

Per Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report

Russell was benched during the team's series against the Nuggets in the postseason and wasn’t happy about it. So, if they were to bring him off the bench, it could cause issues within the locker room.

You would hope that he would be a professional and do what is best for the team, but there are no guarantees. Plus, the threat of Vincent could affect his mentality as the year goes on.

He will likely start the year as the team's starting point guard, but if his struggles continue, head coach Darvin Ham won’t hesitate to move him back to the bench. The Lakers are on a mission this season, and nobody is bigger than the team.

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