The Lakers built their roster this offseason with a mandate to surround LeBron James with playmakers. Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Rajon Rondo, and Lance Stephenson were all supposed to help lessen the creative burden that James had been saddled with in previous seasons.
Due to injury (Ingram, Rondo) or simply ineffectiveness (Stephenson), the Lakers are left with only one of that quartet to help run the offense when James is off the floor for the upcoming road trip.