Quentin Grimes Welcomes Younger, Faster Lakers Roster
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The Los Angeles Lakers have radically reworked their lineup since last season’s second-round playoff exit, swapping out six rotation players and bringing in a wave of youth and speed.
LeBron James, Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes are gone. In their place, the front office has added Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Collin Sexton, Ziaire Williams, Kevon Looney and Matisse Thybulle, with additional signings still possible. The new group is being built around Luka Doncic as the primary option and Austin Reaves as the clear No. 2 scorer.
Grimes Praises Reaves and Kessler
Speaking on 710 AM ESPN Los Angeles with “Mason & Ireland,” Grimes expressed confidence in how quickly the revamped roster can gel.
“AR had a fantastic season last year—well deserved contract and everything,” Grimes said. “He’s one of the best scorers in the NBA, probably. Walker, you know, is one of the best rim protectors. Everybody knows what he does—nobody wants to go in that paint. 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 there holding it down.”
Role Definition Could Speed Up Chemistry
Because Doncic and Reaves occupy the top offensive spots, coaches expect clearly defined roles for the newcomers. Grimes believes that clarity will help Los Angeles get off to a quick start.
“We’ve got guys like Collin, a dog; Mamu, a dog, already getting work in. It’s going to be a lot of fun. I feel like we’re going to surprise some people with how good we are when everything’s clicking,” he said.
Early Praise for Two-Way Forward Arthur Kaluma
Grimes also highlighted second-year forward Arthur Kaluma, who earned a two-way contract after an impressive Las Vegas Summer League showing. The guard applauded Kaluma’s confidence and energy, indicating that the two-way player could be an early contributor.
Training camp opens next month, when the retooled Lakers will begin testing whether their new mix of youth, defense and defined roles can translate into immediate wins.
Source: Lakers Nation
