The Los Angeles Lakers have completely re-shaped their roster from the team that got to the second round three months ago. L.A. parted ways with six regular rotation players — LeBron James, Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes — and replaced them with Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Collin Sexton, Ziaire Williams, Kevon Looney, Matisse Thybulle, and possibly more to come.
There are arguments to be made about whether or not the Lakers have a better team than the one that got swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder, but what is undeniable is that L.A. is younger, faster and entirely built around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Grimes, though, is feeling positive about the new-look Lakers and what they can do together.
“AR had a fantastic season last year, well-deserving of the contract he got and everything,” Grimes said on 710 AM ESPN L.A. with Mason & Ireland. “He’s one of the best scorers in the NBA, probably. Walker (Kessler), you know, is one of the best rim protectors. I know he only played like four or five games last year, but everybody knows what he does. Nobody wants to go in that paint, 7’2” guy he’s going to block shots. He’s going to give us a definite advantage because people aren’t gonna go in that paint, so we can guard and put pressure on the ball even more knowing we got big Walker down in the paint holding it down.
“We got guys like Collin (Sexton), a dog. (Sandro) Mamu, a dog, already getting out here and getting work in. So, it’s going to be a lot of fun. I feel like we’re going to surprise some people for sure with how good we are and clicking on all cylinders, I think.”
It normally takes time for teams to mesh together when they are built almost from scratch. However, this Lakers team has the advantage of having clearly-defined roles behind obvious No. 1 and No. 2 offensive options. Everybody on this team already should know what their role is and what they’re expected to accomplish each night.
Grimes seems hopeful that the Lakers can get to winning ways immediately given what all the individual pieces bring to the equation. And while there is still debate on whether this year’s team is better than last year, Grimes appears ready to settle that on the court.
Quentin Grimes impressed with Arthur Kaluma
Grimes is also already being complimentary of the Lakers’ two-way players, specifically Arthur Kaluma. The second-year undrafted free agent shined at Las Vegas Summer League and earned himself a two-way contract with the Lakers. Grimes loved what he saw from the forward and praised him for his confidence and effort.
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