2023-24 Player Grades
Annnnnnd it's a wrap - a frustrating and ultimately disappointing season came to a merciful end. At least we can be thankful the Lakers didn't give up and lay an egg.
That means it's time for player grades. As always, I base my grading scale on my expectations for an NBA player. That's because a marginal player may be the best player on the team, but they're still just a marginal player. This year I'm adding pluses/minuses to the letter grades and an overall grade for the season. To summarize:
A - best of the best of the best (with honors!)
B - legitimate starter on most NBA teams
C - top-8/shortened bench rotation guy
D - end of rotation guy
F - Luol Deng
INC - incomplete
So here they are - in order by total minutes played:
- Anthony Davis (A) - Arguably the most important player on the team and perhaps his best statistical season as a Laker. Davis is one the 2 or 3 best two-way players in the league and should have been nominated for DPOY.
- Austin Reaves (C+) - Solid young player on a great contract. There's a lot to like about Austin Reaves but just enough glaring weaknesses (primarily on defense) that keep him from earning the B.
- Lebron James (A-) - Lebron had a great season for his age and is still one of the league's top players. Still, he's lost a step and there's a lot of good young talent in the league right now. The fact that he's even still at this level is pretty darn impressive.
- D'Angelo Russell (B-) - GREAT regular season followed by "meh" playoffs...again. Russell is still capable of averaging 20/8 a game but is probably below average as an NBA starter. Like Reaves, he has just enough glaring weaknesses (also primarily on defense) holding down his overall grade.
- Taurean Prince (C-) - Took a lot of unfair heat from fans this season. Prince is a career rotation guy who played like a career rotation guy. Unfortunately, he had to start 49 games due to injuries and...uh..."cd"s.
- Rui Hachimura (C-) - Rui has all the tools to be an elite offensive player...but his disturbing lack of consistency is why he grades where he does.
- Cam Reddish (D+) - Not gonna lie...I was a Reddish hater coming into the season. Not exactly a fan now, but recognize that he can bring value off the bench.
- Max Christie (D+) - Christie is a sick athlete who showed real improvement this season. Like to see him in the 20-22mpg range next year...possibly more if he develops this summer.
- Jaxon Hayes (D) - Not mad at Hayes, but he is what he is...a fill-in for injuries or specific matchups
- Christian Wood (D) - See Hayes.
- Spencer Dinwiddie (INC) - Hard to really evaluate a buy-out guy
- Jared Vanderbilt (C) - Despite not playing much, Vando more than proved his value on the defensive end. Hopefully he can get and stay healthy next season
- Gabe Vincent (INC) - Feel like we never really got a chance to see him play this season. Maybe next.
- And the rest.... (F) - Doesn't make much sense to break them down individually. Hood-Schifino, Mays, Castleton, Fudge(???), Windler, Lewis, Giles were there. Just. There.
OVERALL GRADE: C+ - As mentioned earlier, it was a frustrating and disappointing season. Injuries and - shall we say - "dubious" coaching moves certainly played their role, but, at the end of the day, the lack of consistency/production among the mid-tier players (grades B- to C) is ultimately what cost the Lakers a better playoff seed and the more favorable matchup that comes with it. The good news is that the Lakers have some flexibility to improve this offseason. The bad news is that it still probably won't be enough to make them contenders. I don't expect them to blow it up, but I think it's safe to say the window is closed on the Lebron era.