Insider Special: Camp Battle ~ Lakers

[Weez]

Small forward is only question mark

By Chad Ford

NBA Insider

Send an Email to Chad Ford Monday, October 6

Updated: October 6

11:20 AM ET

We know who's starting at point guard. We know who's starting at shooting guard. We know who's starting at power forward. And we know who's starting at center. It's the same guys you keep seeing on your all-star ballot; the same ones you see in commercials; the same ones you'll be applauding in Springfield, Mass., one of these days.

In fact, the only position up for grabs is perhaps the one at which the Lakers are deepest. And the question may not come down to who the best player or best athlete or best shooter is, but rather which one complements his teammates the best, even if that means being the best at not being the best player.

With training camp now in full swing, the only question for the Lakers is which small forward wants most to go along for the ride.

L.A. Lakers

Point Guard Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes

Gary Payton 13 6-4 20.4 ppg, 8.3 apg in 40.1 mpg Two years ago, Payton posted a career-high in assists with 9.0 per game. Last year, he was at 8.8 per game with the Sonics and 8.3 overall. And for most of those two years he was not only his team's best scorer, but also its best passer; not only the team's best perimeter scorer but also its best option when isolated down low. Not only was he the team's best offensive weapon but also the team's best defensive stopper. It all has come at a price ... or rather, it will. His career average of 18.3 points per game, which he has bettered in each of the last 10 seasons, is due for a beating.

Derek Fisher 6 6-1 10.5 ppg, 3.6 apg in 34.5 mpg Fisher was in the right place at the right time as the starting point guard for the three-time champions. Never averaged more than 4.4 assists per game. Has hit only 397 triples in 462 games. But when he did, they were big. Not quantity, but quality, he'd tell you. But as he loses a step on defense and his field goal percentage hovers around 40 despite never seeing a straight-up defender, he may have just lucked out again. On the bench, backing up a hall of famer, Fisher can make one or two crucial shots at the end of quarters or halves or games, and that'll be all we remember him for.

Jannero Pargo 1 6-1 2.5 ppg, 1.1 apg in 10.1 mpg Fisher got a job with the Lakers when Ron Harper couldn't keep up on defense with the speedy youngsters. Pargo got a job with the Lakers when Fisher couldn't keep up with those same speedy youngsters. Now the Lakers have a guy who has been named to eight consecutive All-Defensive First Teams and was defensive player of the year in 1996. Guess who just lost a job ...

Small forward Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes

Kobe Bryant 7 6-7 30 ppg, 5.9 apg in 41.5 mpg The Lakers won their first of three titles with Bryant averaging 22.5 points per game, then lost their three-year lock on the throne after he averaged 30. The scary thing for opponents, though, is that he has increased his assists every season. Last year he also posted career highs in rebounds, steals, 3-pointers made and 3-point percentage while ranking second in the league in triple-doubles. The courtroom isn't going to distract him. It'll only remind him why he's on this planet in the first place.

Kareem Rush 1 6-6 3 ppg, 1.2 rpg in 11.5 mpg Opportunities will be limited to three or four minutes a game when he is actually on the court with an open look, and in those few precious moments he will live or die on one or two shots./td>

Small forward Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes

Devean George 6 6-8 3.7 ppg, 1.3 apg in 13 mpg The Lakers are great at this. They're great at that. But what they're not is young and athletic. George is both. In fact, that's all we're sure he is at this point. Seriously, it actually takes effort to look as lost as he does on the court when your only job is to stay somewhere between the biggest player on the floor and the best. Last year, George got his first taste of starting and responded by scoring fewer points at a lower shooting percentage. Repeat that again, and he could easily go from first to third on this depth chart.

Rick Fox 12 6-7 9 ppg, 4.3 rpg in 28.7 mpg If Rick Fox doesn't regain his starting position from George once he's healthy later in the season, he'll lose it next season to Luke Walton. But this is a franchise that moves on tradition just as much as on talent, so don't count on Fox losing his position after being wounded in the line of duty. He'll begin there when he comes back. He just may not finish there. But that doesn't mean he'll be any less effective coming off the bench. He remains one of the few players who can give his team exactly what it needs while never trying to take a larger role than the team is willing to give.

Luke Walton R 6-8 -- Not quite sure yet if he's a better shooter, passer, defender or dribbler, or all of the above, none of the above or just a heck of a lot smarter than everyone else on the court. They say he is Tex Winter's type of pupil, Phil Jackson's type of player and Mitch Kupchak's type of person to entrust this studded line up to. But, then again, he could be just another rookie with a famous father.

Bryon Russell 10 6-7 4.5 ppg, 3 rpg in 19.8 mpg Hasn't officially made the team yet, but even the Lakers might be able to use a guy with 96 playoff games under his belt returning home with something still to prove.

Power forward Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes

Karl Malone 18 6-9 20.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg in 36.2 mpg Karl Malone isn't just any power forward. He very well could be the greatest power forward in the history of the game. Has a career average of 10.2 rebounds but hasn't averaged double digits in six seasons. His career scoring average of 25.4 points per game absorbed last year's 20.6. But even half that much would be nearly twice as much as Robert Horry averaged in the playoffs (5.6 ppg). And for good measure, he posted a career high in assists at 4.7 per game a season ago.

Slava Medvedenko 3 6-10 4.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg in 10.7 mpg With both O'Neal and Bryant calling for the ball, Slava can go from anonymous to another shot at a full-time job within seconds of checking in. Now, he's playing behind the guy who could very well become the league's all time leading scorer but also did a little passing, rebounding and defending in his time. Slava sinks or swims under this tutoring.

Brian Cook R 6-9 -- Drafted this kid for the future. Pen and pad until then.

Center Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes

Shaquille O'Neal 11 7-1 27.5 ppg, 11.1 rpg in 37.8 mpg The fact that he has won only one MVP award is our fault. But if he doesn't win it this year after seeing Tim Duncan hoist his second one last year, the fault will be his. At his best, Shaq is arguably the greatest center of all time. At his worst, he is simply the greatest center of his time. Somewhere in between is the idea that we're condemning a man who has taken 14,072 shots in his career and made more than 57 percent of them.

Horace Grant 16 6-10 5.2 ppg, 1.6 rpg in 17 mpg Has played with Shaq, alongside Shaq, against Shaq and now, after 16 years, will play behind Shaq. And while he won't be able to do all of things he wants to do on the floor, he won't do any of the things he's not supposed to do, either.

Jamal Sampson 1 6-11 -- If he ever gets off the bench, it's the surest sign the Lakers are doing extremely well. Or extremely poorly.