The Los Angeles Lakers really, really like Cameron Carr. There's a reason they traded up in the draft to get him. JJ Redick has since revealed that Carr was much higher than No. 24 on LA's draft board.
What's not to like? Carr is an ideal wing prototype alongside Luka Doncic, both physically and skill-wise. He's long (7-foot wingspan), super athletic, and can knock down 3s off the catch. Carr flashed all of this quality during summer league, in case you weren't convinced by his college tape.
The Lakers' decision to place Cameron Carr in their rotation has already been made for them
Redick hasn't revealed much about his specific plans for the rotation. The Lakers have as many as 12 or 13 guys who truly deserve minutes on an NBA team. But when it comes to Carr, there shouldn't be any doubt about him getting significant minutes from the get-go, mostly due to his athleticism on the wing.
That's because the Lakers play in a conference dominated at the top by young, long, and athletic wings -- exemplified specifically by the reigning Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs, whose best guards and wings are mostly athletic specimens in their early 20s.
The Spurs' youth movement convinced plenty of naysayers that they were still too inexperienced to contend. Then they made the NBA Finals last season, and that theory was thrown in the trash. "It's a young man's game" has never been a more accurate slogan associated with the NBA. Teams who take a gamble on young, athletic guys instead of leaning into experience stand to benefit. The Lakers are acutely aware of this -- they got younger and more athletic this summer in response.
To compete in the West -- particularly when the postseason rolls around -- you need fresh, bouncy legs on the wing. You need young guys who can defend but are still high-IQ enough not to commit dumb fouls or be overwhelmed by the moment.
Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell ... these guys all play with a maturity beyond their years. They are also all big enough to guard wings.
Carr is 21 years old with a ton of defensive ability. The Lakers will have to rely on him heavily in his rookie season. LA needs to be athletically up to speed with the San Antonios and Oklahoma Citys of the world. Carr gives them that, if they use him. In other words, they must. Redick's merely being coy if he's acting like Carr won't get minutes right away.
