The Los Angeles Lakers’ roster has undergone a complete overhaul this offseason. In fact, the team’s starting five of LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard and Deandre Ayton that started the playoff opener against the Houston Rockets are all no longer with the team.
One of the players from last year’s roster that is still on the team now is second-year wing Adou Thiero, who showed a couple flashes of what he could bring to the Lakers as a rookie. And while Thiero realizes the locker room will look very different next season, his focus at the moment is on improving with the Lakers’ Summer League team.
“It’s going to be different but that’s not what I’m really focused on right now,” Thiero told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “This is the team I’m with right now, so I’m focused on getting better, getting better with this group of guys. Just going out and competing whenever we can.”
While it hurts to lose players like James, Smart and the rest, this is exactly the mindset Thiero should have during Summer League. Not only were these great players who were important to the Lakers’ success, but they were also veterans whom Thiero could learn from. However, he now has a great opportunity in front of him to be an important piece of JJ Redick’s rotation next season.
The Lakers have added a number of pieces this summer such as Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Collin Sexton, but the team is still lacking on the wing. The Lakers need real perimeter defenders and Thiero is someone who can fit that mold as a point-of-attack defender and overall energy piece.
Injuries hampered Thiero’s rookie season, but he still received a couple opportunities throughout the season and even in the playoffs. There will be a lot of eyes on him throughout Summer League as he has a ton of potential and if he can show that off in Las Vegas, the excitement around what he can bring to the Lakers will only grow.
Lakers’ two-way forward AK Okereke describes his game
Another intriguing player on the Lakers’ Summer League roster is forward AK Okereke, who signed a two-way contract with the franchise. The former Vanderbilt player recently described his game and what he hopes to bring to the Lakers, noting that he is focused on being a versatile player capable of filling any role on both sides of the court.
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