Lakers new Head Coach ‘Wouldn’t Hesitate’ to bench players

There are many things the Lakers should improve for the next season, at least this is if they want to be somehow competitive. Their mayor issue is their roster of course. As we approach training camp we still don't know what the starting roster will be, from one side we have the Russell Westbrook-Kyrie Irving trade, that if happen things might change things up, but for now, they have to work with what they have. For this reason Darvin Ham wants all players to embrace their roles for the team.

Last season, the Lakers ended up with a mediocre record of 33 wins and 49 losses finishing the season 11th in the Western Conference missing the playoffs. The team ranked in the bottom 10 both offensively and defensively, giving up 115.1 points per game, the third-worst average in the league. This is why Ham reiterated that his main objectives are to hold everyone accountable and foster an atmosphere of selflessness, sources said. 

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Ham also voiced that defensive tenacity needs to be picked up all across the roster and also forewarned that players would have to play new roles and if he sensed reluctance, he wouldn’t hesitate to remove them from the game, sources said. Even if the Lakers don't have a deep roster full of talent both LeBron and Ham believe they need consistent competitiveness and cohesion, so that the team chance on many nights. 

Needless to say, this mentality is what helped Darvin Ham get the job in Los Angeles. " I think we’re excited to see how Coach with his leadership style will bring those attributes to our team next year. And as he said, there’s gonna be expectations, especially on the defensive end that those words carry forward. Words like toughness and sacrifice and accountability and that’s what Coach Ham’s leadership stands for and represents.” explained Rob Pelinka when Ham was presented as Head Coach.

What players could be bench this season?

This comments have been made with no movements in the actual roster. Things might change if the front office manages to trade Russell Westbrook and -reportedly- two first round picks for Kyrie Irving. For now there's no doubt the first player that could be bench is Westbrook himself, as he showed last year that he's not at his prime anymore. Still Davis should take into account the comments as it seems he will have a bigger role this upcoming season.