The LA Lakers roster next season will get a major boost, as two players will be at their best physically compared to last year.
The Los Angeles Lakers knew coming into this offseason that they had to address the gaps on their roster.
Despite the Lakers fumbling their negotiations with Dorian Finney-Smith in free agency, the franchise managed to turn things around.
The big swing for Rob Pelinka was signing Jake LaRavaia and Deandre Ayton to flexible, team-friendly deals. The Lakers had some assistance from Luka Doncic, who helped recruit Ayton to LA.
This also turned out to be the case this weekend, as Doncic helped bring Marcus Smart to the Lakers after his buyout from the Wizards.
And while the Lakers are losing Shake Milton and Jordan Goodwin in the process, not all hope is lost. Especially as two Lakers stars are feeling much better physically heading into the new season.
Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty ImagesJarred Vanderbilt and Maxi Kleber at full health ahead of new season
In the latest edition of Marc Stein’s Stein Line, he revealed that both Jarred Vanderbilt and Maxi Kleber are doing much better from a physical standpoint this offseason.
Neither player was at full health last season, with Kleber only playing one game for the Lakers. The former Mavericks big man played five minutes in Game 5 of the Lakers’ first-round exit against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“I’m also hearing Jarred Vanderbilt is healthier now than he was at any point last season, which will naturally spark hope that the versatile forward seems like an offseason addition himself when training camp opens in late September.
“Ditto for Maxi Kleber, who made only one appearance — for five minutes in Game 5 of the Lakers’ first-round exit to Minnesota — after he was shipped to Lakerland with Dončić on Feb. 2.”
But it appears the Lakers will also bring in a new star next season who has been putting in the work. The motivation within the Lakers roster to get better is infectious.
Marcus Smart working to improve conditioning ahead of LA Lakers debut
According to Stein, Marcus Smart has spent a lot of time this offseason grinding. The former Defensive Player of the Year acknowledged his conditioning issues with the Wizards. As such, he wanted to make sure he was in tip-top shape ahead of the new season.
“I’m likewise told that Smart (like Dončić) has been working hard on his body this summer. Conditioning was an undeniable issue for Smart last season.
“But the Lakers were convinced during their pursuit that they will see a sleeker version of the 2021-22 DPOY.”
Landing Smart is a huge boost to the team. And to hear that he is putting in the work to be ready for them will instantly make him a fan-favorite.
JJ Redick has spoken highly of Smart in the past. Now as the Lakers head coach, he gets to use Smart as a primary defensive stopper