Lakers' Offseason Haul Producing Results

The 2020 offseason was both a busy and successful run for the reigning National Basketball Association (NBA) champions, the Los Angeles Lakers. They lost Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley, Danny Green, Dwight Howard, and JaVale McGee. As big as what the Lakers lost in terms of talent, the talents that they've brought in during the offseason is what makes them a favorite to win it all again. The Lakers acquired last season's two of the best sixth men in Dennis Schroder and Montrezl Harrell. Marc Gasol also signed with the same squad that drafted him in 2007. Completing the pack of the Lakers' offseason haul was Wesley Matthews. 

Six games into the 2020-2021 regular season, the Lakers are standing at joined second place in the Western Conference with a 4-2 record, and a big reason why the Lakers are successful early on is that their offseason haul is producing good results on both ends of the court. 

While LeBron James and Anthony Davis are the Lakers' one-two punch, they don't have to carry the load on their own. Not with Schroder and company being their supporting cast.

Schroder, for one, has emerged as the Lakers' third-leading scorer as he is averaging 17 points in his first six regular-season games with the team. His best game thus far came at the team's loss against the Portland Trail Blazers where he finished with 24 points, four assists, and four rebounds. Against the San Antonio Spurs to start the Lakers' campaign for 2021, Dennis Schroder finished with 15 points, four rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block while his defense in the endgame helped the team escape with a 109-103 victory. 

Montrezl Harrell, who won the Sixth Man of the Year award as a Los Angeles Clipper last season, is averaging 12 points and seven rebounds while shooting 63% from the field in six games thus far with the Lakers. His best game came against the Dallas Mavericks on Christmas Day where he had 22 points and seven rebounds.  And while he only had four points against the Spurs on January 2, he found other ways to be able to contribute as he had 11 rebounds plus a steal. We have yet to see the best of Harrell in a Lakers jersey.

Meanwhile, Marc Gasol and Wesley Matthews have their bright spots early in the season as both gave glimpses of what they can do for the Lakers. While Gasol is averaging three points and six rebounds, Gasol is leading the team in blocks per game and is shooting 50% from the three-point line. If he can find his grove at the center position, that will make life easier for Anthony Davis. Matthews had a great shooting night on the Lakers' final game in 2020 against the Spurs where he made all of his six attempts from the three-point line for 18 points. 

If the four acquisitions can produce good results on a consistent basis, the Lakers will be harder to play against because now, guarding LeBron James and Anthony Davis will not do the trick. 

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