Former longtime NBA player and now an assistant for the New Orleans Pelicans, Corey Brewer, offered his thoughts on the post-LeBron James Los Angeles Lakers, with the keys to the franchise kingdom undoubtedly handed to their sensational, perennial MVP candidate, Luka Dončić.
One of the directions the Lakers have gone to replace James, after he took his talents to Philadelphia, is an underrated combo guard nicknamed “Young Bull,” whom they signed to a 2-year, $19.2 million deal this summer.
Corey Brewer Offers His Thoughts On Post- LeBron Lakers With One Player Particularly Catching The Eye
Sexton and fellow new signing Quentin Grimes will offer much more on- and off-ball than the Lakers had last year on their roster, thanks to their ability to defend the perimeter and score. That aggressiveness on defense was lacking in the Lakers’ last season.
Pelicans assistant Brewer is complimentary of Sexton, telling ‘Ratings.org’: “I like Collin Sexton a lot; he plays hard, man.” Sexton continued, “He’s one guy in the NBA that every night you watch that kid play, he’s playing hard, super hard.”
Sexton originally impressed with the Cleveland Cavaliers, showcasing his scoring ability and averaging a career-high 24.3 points per game in the 2020 season. He then moved to the Utah Jazz, where he averaged 17.5 points over three seasons, before being moved in short stints to Charlotte and Chicago last season.
Overall, he finished with 15.4 points in 23.7 minutes per game. At 27, he is still in his prime and could find a long-term home in Los Angeles if he makes an impression with his new employers.
Sexton wasn’t the only one who caught Brewer’s eye from the Lakers’ rebuilt roster post-LeBron. Walker Kessler instantly upgrades their long-problematic center position as a lob threat for Dončić to play off of. Brewer acknowledges this is a new type of team, and it may take time for everyone to be used to playing together.
“I like Walker Kessler, the defensive big. He’s a lob threat for Luka, and we’ve seen what Luka and Austin (Reaves) can do together. They’ve been playing well. They both averaged 20-something last year. Luka is Luka, man. Luka is always going to be a top three player up for MVP. Those guys, they learn to play off each other. It’s another team, it’s going to be a new team. They got to learn each other too.”
How will they look without James? Brewer admits he is unsure. “Right now, I can’t even tell you, to be honest,” said Brewer. “…we gotta see them play.”
Many would argue the Lakers spent their cap space wisely, upgrading at center and on the wings, as they appear to be among the favorites to contend in the Western Conference.
