Lakers Lean into Size as JJ Redick Experiments with Frontcourt Firepower
LOS ANGELES - In a league that’s been trending toward small-ball and positionless schemes, the Lakers are zagging while everyone else zigs. Head coach JJ Redick has started leaning into a bigger, more traditional frontcourt look - and so far, it’s paying off.
After spending much of the season with just one true big on the floor, Redick has recently deployed lineups featuring multiple big men, and the shift has caught the attention of both fans and players - including star guard Luka Doncic, who’s been vocal about the impact.
Drew Timme, the rookie forward known more for his footwork and feel than flashy athleticism, has carved out a rotation role alongside Deandre Ayton and Jarred Vanderbilt. Against the Raptors last Sunday, all three shared the court at once - a rare sight in today’s NBA.
The result? A physical, post-heavy look that gave the Lakers a new dimension.
“Obviously we’ve got some more post games,” Doncic said after Thursday’s loss to the Clippers. “I feel like Drew has done an incredible job of playing the right way and playing his game, props to him.
I think he just fits this team. And obviously Vando was unbelievable… he’s in every game fighting, so we just got to help them out.”
Doncic’s praise isn’t just lip service. The Lakers’ bigger lineups have brought a noticeable edge on the glass and in half-court sets.
Timme’s ability to operate in the post and make smart decisions with the ball has complemented Ayton’s rim presence and Vanderbilt’s relentless energy. It’s not flashy, but it’s effective - especially when the Lakers need to slow the game down and control the paint.
Still, Redick hasn’t abandoned flexibility. In Saturday’s comeback win over the Mavericks, he went the other direction entirely, closing the game with a small-ball unit.
The group featured Doncic and Marcus Smart in the backcourt, with LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, and Jake LaRavia up front. That five-man unit brought spacing, switchability, and tempo - the kind of lineup that can erase double-digit deficits in a hurry.
But Redick has been consistent in his message: lineups are going to be fluid. Matchups, game flow, and momentum will dictate who’s on the floor - and that could mean going big one night and small the next.
After the Raptors game, Redick admitted the sight of his jumbo lineup - Timme, Ayton, Vanderbilt, and LeBron - even caught him off guard.
“You get the clipboard, and we had talked about it so I knew it was coming, but still it was a little jarring to see Vando, Drew, DA, LeBron - that’s a big lineup,” Redick said. “They did a good job playing out of the post during that stretch, and we were also able to get some stops and run, so I thought they did a good job.”
That balance - pounding teams inside with size one night, then spreading the floor and running them out the gym the next - could be the key to unlocking the Lakers’ full potential. Redick isn’t just experimenting for the sake of it. He’s searching for combinations that can win in different ways, and with the playoffs looming, that kind of versatility could make all the difference.
For now, the Lakers are still a work in progress. But whether it’s Drew Timme bullying defenders on the block or LeBron orchestrating from the top of the key, this team is starting to show some intriguing layers. And in a wide-open Western Conference, that might be exactly what they need.