Portland Trail Blazers: Ranking every projected bench in the NBA
By Andy Quach
Great: the top-10 benches in the NBA
6. Los Angeles Lakers
Projected Bench:
G – Talen Horton-Tucker
G – Malik Monk
F – Trevor Ariza
F – Carmelo Anthony
C – DeAndre Jordan
How much help does LeBron James need?????
Just kidding. There have been plenty of geriatric jokes fired at the Los Angeles Lakers and just as many uncreative shots like the one I just got off. In reality, General Manager Rob Pelinka has done a stand-up job working with what he has, and who can blame castaway veterans leaving a few million on the table for a chance at a ring playing next to the King.
The Lakers aren’t exactly stacked but they’re certainly deeper than they were last year, when their bench thoroughly disappointed them when it came time to step up during Los Angeles’s extended bout with injuries.
Losing Markieff Morris, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Alex Caruso hurts, but this squad could be even better than the bench that helped them win the 2020 bubble championship.
7. Los Angeles Clippers
Projected Bench:
G – Terance Mann
G – Luke Kennard
F – Justise Winslow
F – Nicolas Batum
C – Serge Ibaka
The Los Angeles Clippers will be without Kawhi Leonard for the majority of the season, possibly all of it, but they’ve built a solid team that should still compete for the playoffs led by Paul George.
Despite losing key members of the original team that enticed the Klaw and PG13 to come to Los Angeles, the Clips still have the bodies to go 10+ deep on any given night.
If Winslow returns to his Miami Heat form and Mann and Kennard can continue developing, this unit could rise a few spots in the ranking.
8. Brooklyn Nets
Projected Bench:
G – Patty Mills
G – Bruce Brown
F – Paul Millsap
F – Blake Griffin
C – Nicolas Claxton
Similar to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Nets bench is riddled with veterans still capable of producing at a high level. Patty Mills brings ample shot creation to this unit behind lead guards Kyrie Irving and James Harden and the rest of the mob is can lock down on defense while switching interchangeably.
Look for Claxton to have a possible breakout year, as well, as the former Georgia Bulldog could become a household name for his unique blend of perimeter skills and interior defense. His ceiling could bolster this bench significantly.
9. Indiana Pacers
Projected Bench:
G – T.J. McConnell
G – Jeremy Lamb
F – Justin Holiday
F – Torrey Craig
C – Goga Bitadze
The Indiana Pacers absolutely have a top-10 bench in the NBA. The reason that they’re not a top-10 team overall is that their reserve unit is nearly as competitive as their starters.
Goga Bitadze is the only question mark here, as the rest of the bench are established veterans who know and fill their roles extremely well. If Bitadze can become a consistent defensive force on the inside, while continuing to develop the versatile skills that got him drafted on offense, this unit could be even more dangerous than expected.
10. New York Knicks
Projected Bench:
G – Derrick Rose
G- Immanuel Quickley
F – Alec Burks
F – Obi Toppin
C – Nerlens Noel
The New York Knicks are one of the deepest teams up and down their roster, so the actual five guys that get the most run off the pine could easily change here. Regardless, the Knickerbockers will run out one of the best reserve units in the league.
If young guns Quickley and Toppin can continue to develop, this Knicks team could make an unexpectedly deep run in the playoffs.