The Los Angeles Lakers have made a number of high-profile moves this offseason.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka acquired point guard Dennis Schroder and signed Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell. Los Angeles finessed extra cap space to sign veteran big Marc Gasol, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope inked a three-year deal to return to the Lakers.
Most notably, the Lakers reached an extension with LeBron James and signed Anthony Davis to a five-year, $190 million max contract. However, Davis himself suggested two of the team's most unheralded moves could be among the most important.
The Lakers re-signed veteran wings Jared Dudley and Markieff Morris to minimum deals, which Davis revealed as an imperative part of the offseason because of how much confidence those guys give the superstars:
“Him (Jared Dudley) and Markieff are the two guys that give me and LeBron the most confidence in ourselves,” Davis said, via Harrison Faigen of SB Nation. “It's good to have teammates like that who have your back and want the best for you.”
It is not surprising to hear Davis praise Dudley and Morris for their veteran leadership.
Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times said after the Lakers re-signed Morris that Davis was adamant the team bring him back because of the veteran's toughness and his ability to space the floor and rebound:
.@geeter3, @Mike_Bresnahan & @BA_Turner discuss Markieff Morris returning to the #LakeShow on a one-year deal. pic.twitter.com/YgOhwdoR0Z
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) November 24, 2020
Morris is indeed relied upon to defend and add perimeter shooting. Dudley rarely sees the floor, but clearly provides the team with extra motivation and confidence.
Davis and James will — once again — drive the car for the Lakers. Role players were vital to the team's title quest this past season, though, and Davis suggested both Dudley and Morris will loom large in the team's ability to repeat this year.
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