Unheralded Josh Hart could be key running mate for LeBron James next season

Jay Asser 16:50 11/07/2018
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  • Josh Hart is an ideal 3-and-D player to put next to LeBron James.

    Barring the Los Angeles Lakers pulling off a major trade between now and the regular season, LeBron James will have to rely on a bunch of kids next year.

    Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma will undoubtedly be under the spotlight, but it may be Josh Hart – the least heralded member of the Lakers’ young core – who ends up being one of the most important role players on the team.

    As someone who can shoot and defend multiple positions well, the second-year wing possess qualities that make him an ideal running partner next to James.

    For all the talk of the Lakers moving away from the player archetype that the Cleveland Cavaliers focused on surrounding James with, 3-and-D types remain valuable, not only as LeBron teammates but in the league in general.

    After being drafted 30th overall in last year’s draft and coming into the league with relatively low expectations, Hart showed his polish as a four-year player in college at Villanova. His averages of 7.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists didn’t jump off the page, but perhaps most encouraging, offensively speaking, was his 39.6 per cent shooting from deep on 3.1 attempts per game.

    His ability to defend one through four with tenacity was equally impressive, and if summer league is any indication, Hart may be another level this coming season.

    In two summer league games in Sacramento, Hart had 24 points on 7-of-19 shooting, including 4-of-9 from long range. Through three games in Las Vegas, he’s averaging 23.3 points on 48 per cent shooting and is 12-of-27 from 3.

    In the Lakers’ most recent game, a 109-92 win over the New York Knicks, Hart also took on the challenge of defending Kevin Knox after the ninth overall draft pick started catching fire in the third quarter.

    Knox is far from an established star scorer, but the fluid 6-foot-9 forward is the type of player Hart may be able to guard next season so James doesn’t have to over-extend himself on that end of the floor.

    It also looks like Hart has improved as a ball-handler and scorer inside the arc, which should make him more of an all-around threat.

    He’s not going to be the Robin to James’ Batman, but he could be an important piece to the puzzle.

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