The NBA season is set to resume on July 31st at Disney World in Orlando.
The Lakers have some tough roster decisions to make as they are calling up three G League players for this tournament: Devontae Cacok, Talen Horton-Tucker, and Kostas Antetokounmpo.
Talen Horton-Tucker is reportedly on the 15-man roster, as Cacok is the 16th man, and Antetokounmpo is the 17th man. They are all very active on the defensive end, and their length will be beneficial for Los Angeles.
Talen Horton-Tucker has played well in the G League, averaging 18.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. As a 6 foot 4 guard, averaging 6.3 rebounds is impressive, and Horton-Tucker’s wingspan will give him the advantage to defend guards taller than him as well.
Kostas Antetokounmpo has improved his game since last season, averaging 14.1 points on 62.3% shooting, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in 25.5 minutes per game. If Kostas builds more muscle during the offseason, he could be a force in the paint.
Devontae Cacok, named “Ridiculous Upside’s G League Rookie of the Year,” has the most upside for the Lakers and could make an immediate impact on the team. Cacok averaged 19.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in just 23.8 minutes per game. He came off the bench for the South Bay Lakers in 31 out of the 33 games, so he is accustomed to playing at a high level off the bench, and that could be beneficial for coach Frank Vogel and the Lakers.
All three players bring their own unique talents. However, Devontae Cacok should see the most time in the playoffs, whether it’s due to Dwight or JaVale struggling, hurt, or fatigued, because both of the bigs played limited minutes this season.
The Lakers are looking for their 17th championship, and the journey will begin in 53 days.
