Los Angeles Lakers depth chart for 2021-22 NBA season

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Westbrook

The Los Angeles Lakers have gone all-in this season, assembling a veteran-laden team in their quest to win the 2021-22 NBA championship.

Fielding the oldest team in the NBA, with six players over 35 years old, they rounded out their free agency by bringing back point guard Rajon Rondo on a one-year deal.

MORE: Westbrook's homecoming to Lakers is a 'blessing' on and off the court | Is age the greatest concern entering the 2021-22 NBA season?

The Lakers are set to open their 2021-22 season on opening night in a marquee matchup against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021.

Depth chart

Los Angeles Lakers depth chart (2021-22)
  Starters Second Third
PG Russell Westbrook Kendrick Nunn Rajon Rondo
SG Wayne Ellington Talen Horton-Tucker Malik Monk
SF LeBron James Kent Bazemore  
PF Anthony Davis Trevor Ariza Carmelo Anthony
C Dwight Howard DeAndre Jordan  

The Lakers have five players on deals beyond this season: LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis, Talen Horton-Tucker and Kendrick Nunn, with the remainder of the guaranteed contracts being one-year deals. 

Two-way: Joel Ayayi (shooting guard/small forward), Austin Reeves (shooting guard)

Exhibit 10: Chaundee Brown Jr. (forward), Mac McClung (guard)

Key additions and subtractions

The Lakers acquired Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards in a trade for Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Montrezl Harrell.

In free agency, they acquired Dwight HowardKendrick Nunn, Rajon Rondo, Wayne Ellington, Malik Monk, Kent Bazemore, Carmelo Anthony, Trevor Ariza and DeAndre Jordan.

Gone are Alex Caruso, Andre Drummond, Marc Gasol, Dennis Schroder and Markieff Morris.

Positional battles

The Lakers have six rotation-level players in their backcourt alone in Russell Westbrook, Kendrick Nunn, Rajon Rondo, Wayne Ellington and Malik Monk, while Kent Bazemore and Talen Horton-Tucker will also be competing for minutes on the perimeter.

MORE: How will the Lakers navigate perimeter player logjam?

With Anthony Davis' preference to play at power forward, Dwight Howard and DeAndre Jordan will split minutes at center, while Carmelo Anthony and Trevor Ariza will soak up the reserve power forward minutes behind Davis and play spot minutes at small forward behind LeBron James.

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Author(s)
Benyam Kidane Photo

Benyam Kidane is a senior NBA editor for The Sporting News.