With the NBA Summer League underway, all eyes are on the point guard battle brewing for the Los Angeles Lakers. The franchise has returning star Jordan Clarkson and the newly drafted D'Angelo Russell both competing out in Las Vegas while only one will earn the starting role next season. As they split time on the court, who is appearing to have a leg up in the race?
According to Alex Shultz of the Los Angeles Times, Clarkson is picking up where he left off last season as he continues to handle the scoring load in Las Vegas. The second-year pro as a 23-point and 19-point performance to his name while also handeling defensive responsibilities. Of course this is Summer League which is mainly filled with rookie, second-year pros and potential prospects so the competition is not the same as when Los Angeles faces the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James, but the performance is a good indication of what the Lakers have on their roster as the current moment. Clarkson recognizes that he is competing with Russell and likes the idea.
"It's going to be a competition. We're going to compete," Clarkson said, via ESPN.com. "But at the end of the day, we're playing together and [at] summer league, whoever gets the ball off the rim, we're pushing it. We're trying to play fast, get up and down, get easy shots. And then defensively, we're just long and able to guard multiple guys. It's going to be fun."
At the moment, Clarkson likely has the lead when it comes to the starting job in Los Angeles simply because he is a second year player and very familiar with the current system on the court. Russell will give him a run for his money. The battle of the point guard position is not the only competition the Lakers have coming. According to head coach Byron Scott, Julius Randle and Brandon Bass will compete to start at the forward position. Randle's return to Summer League has been a bright spot for Los Angeles as he appears to be fully healthy. Now he has Bass ready to take his starting spot.
"I'm hoping that Julius takes the lead and jumps on that opportunity to be our starting power forward," Scott said, via the Los Angeles Daily News. "But I'll let it play out."
The Lakers are hoping these position battles help determine the starting five for the team. There is still a trade deal for Nick young looming although interest in non-existent at the moment. Regardless of whether the team gets that move, they still have players like Lou Williams, Roy Hibbert and potentially healthy Kobe Bryant to add into the mix.
