Lakers 3 goals: Will rookie Maxwell Lewis be able to contribute?
With training camp for the 2023-24 season just days away, the Los Angeles Lakers are preparing to hit the court for what could be an exciting and very successful season. They appear to have a stacked roster, and therefore an 18th NBA championship is a realistic goal for them once it’s all said and done next summer.
To accomplish that goal, a number of players will need to play up to their potential. That includes incoming rookie Maxwell Lewis, who was a second-round draft choice who came to L.A. via a four-team trade made on draft day.
Lewis seems to have immense potential, and these three goals should help him tap into that potential.
Improve as a 3-point shooter
In his two seasons at Pepperdine University, Lewis shot 35.4 percent from 3-point range. That isn’t bad, but it also wasn’t impressive. In addition, while he was hot from that distance early last season, he went ice-cold in January and February and never quite regained the type of marksmanship he displayed in November and December.
Lewis has the ability to slash to the hoop and finish strong, but if he doesn’t develop at least a passable 3-point shot by NBA standards, opposing teams will be able to sag off him and cut off his driving angles to the cup.
Become a consistently good defender
Maxwell is 6-foot-7, reportedly has a wingspan of seven feet and possesses ample athleticism. Therefore, he has the tools needed to become a standout defender in the pros.
However, the book on him is that he hasn’t put in the effort in that department. According to Aran Smith of NBADraft.net, Lewis’ “major weakness right now is his lack of defensive consistency, intensity and focus.”
That simply won’t cut it in the NBA, especially on a Lakers team coached by Darvin Ham that was among the leaders in defensive rating after last season’s All-Star break. If Lewis ends up being a matador at the next level, he will find it difficult to get significant playing time.
Be aggressive and assertive on offense
During NBA Summer League play, Lewis often looked passive. He was often seen simply standing in 3-point country waiting for the ball to come to him instead of moving to get open.
On a team with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, he will need to cut to the hoop, work off picks and run the floor hard every time in transition. If he does all these things, he will start to display his potential offensively, and that effort level will translate to the defensive end.
When James sees his teammates standing around, he seems less likely to get them involved and is more likely to try to take over by himself. At age 38, that isn’t a good recipe for success as far as the Lakers are concerned.
