Podcast: What kind of impact can Alex Caruso and DeMarcus Cousins make on the Lakers?

After what was a mostly sharp free-agency period for the Lakers, their roster heading into next season is undoubtedly one that is better top to bottom than in years past. With that said, their non-LeBron James options at point guard still remain shaky, and the question of who besides James will get the lion’s share of the minutes as the lead ball-handler is still a mystery. One potential candidate is current fan favorite Alex Caruso.

Silver Screen & Roll Podcast

On this week’s episode of the Silver Screen & Roll Podcast, the Alex’s first discuss the news of the day — including LeBron James and the Lakers getting snubbed by anonymous executives — before spending the rest of the episode previewing Caruso’s upcoming season with the purple and gold.

Our hosts both feel Caruso took enough significant steps forward last season, namely with his outside shot, that — when combined with his stellar defense — warrants him to get a real opportunity to earn those minutes come training camp. The question is, will he be able to supplant Rajon Rondo and Quinn Cook in his teammates and Frank Vogel’s eyes? Our hosts touched on all that and more during the latest episode of the Silver Screen and Roll podcast.

You can listen to the latest episode below, and for more Lakers talk, subscribe to the Silver Screen and Roll podcast feed on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts.

Locked on Lakers

On today’s episode, Pete and I preview DeMarcus Cousins’ season, and boy, there is a lot to be excited about. That doesn’t mean questions don’t remain, though, which is why he was available to the Lakers at the rate they signed him. The hope, quite frankly, is that he plays well enough that the Lakers can’t afford him at season’s end.

With Cousins, it really starts and ends with his health. The only real chance of regaining his shooting stroke is to have his feet squarely under him — something he was unable to get for the entirety of last season.

One difficulty in figuring out how he fits with the Lakers is that Anthony Davis is better at his position, and LeBron James is best while playing the position Davis would be playing whenever Cousins is on the floor. This is something the Lakers will have to figure out if they want to reach their improved ceiling with Cousins on the roster.

You can listen to the entire episode below, and make sure to subscribe on iTunes, where you can also leave questions in the form of a five-star review to guarantee your topic makes the show.