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Ranking all 32 players in tonight’s Cavs vs Lakers game

By Josh Cornelissen

Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Lakers and Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images
Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Lakers and Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images /
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Isaac Okoro, Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images /

Ranking all 32 players in Cavs vs Lakers: Rotation Options

This group of players is not guaranteed minutes on any given night, but most are worthy of being called upon in most games.

22. Dennis Schroder, Guard, LAL – There was a time when Schroder was an All-Star candidate as a young guard in Atlanta and playing alongside Chris Paul in OKC; the Lakers once spent big in (mistakenly) trading for him, but this time around he was signed for the minimum. That’s about all he is earning this season, too, as he has lost something and been unable to get it back.

21. Juan Toscano-Anderson, Forward, LAL – A fan favorite in Golden State, Toscano-Anderson left to find a role where he would be guaranteed minutes. That has not been the case in Los Angeles, where he is averaging 10.6 minutes per game (a career low). His shooting waxes and wanes but he is an excellent switch defender and knows where to be on the court; it’s a function of this team’s poor shooting that he isn’t playing more.

20. Isaac Okoro, Wing, CLE – Three years ago he was the fifth-overall pick, and now Isaac Okoro is barely clinging to a rotation spot. The 6’5″ wing plays hard and is a good defender, but he lacks the size to be a truly versatile player on that end and frequently disappears offensively.

19. Troy Brown Jr., Wing, LAL – Once a top pick of the Washington Wizards, Brown hasn’t developed the offensive game he needed to in order to be a starting-caliber player. That being the case, his length and motor on defense have earned him a starting spot on the Lakers, and his 35 percent shooting from deep is better than most on the Lakers right now.

18. Robin Lopez, Center, CLE – There are a handful of teams in the league where Lopez could start right now but in Cleveland he something of the fourth-string center behind Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley and Kevin Love. His hook shot is glorious, he knows where to be defensively and he is an elite box-out artist. He is essential depth for the Cavs.

17. Austin Reaves, Wing, LAL – There are certain players in the league who look better because of the players around them. Austin Reaves isn’t anything special as an NBA player, but because the Lakers lack any functional wings he suddenly appears better than he is. He is a decent shooter, plays hard and certainly gets a public bump because of how badly the Lakers need him.

16. Thomas Bryant, Center, LAL – Thomas Bryant began his career with the Lakers, was waived after one year, then established himself as a talented offensive center with the Washington Wizards. An ACL tear set him back and ushered him into the realm of minimums, but he has been the Lakers’ best non-Davis big this season.

15. Cedi Osman, Wing, CLE – The definition of a streaky shooter, Osman has been a mainstay in the Cavs’ rotation this season, appearing in all 24 games. He started the season on a heater but has cooled off since, and is probably due to get hot again sometime soon. He’s an ok defender, ok ball-handler, but needs to be a great shooter to ensure a large role all season.