The Los Angeles Lakers underwent radical changes this offseason, losing the majority of last year’s playoff rotation and replacing them with new players on long-term contracts. Some of those players are still just scratching the surface as far as their potential in the NBA. Walker Kessler is still only 24-years-old and has his best years ahead of him. Sandro Mamukelashvili had a breakout season with the Toronto Raptors, and now the question becomes, can he build off that. This Lakers roster has a dearth of players who can potentially have a breakout season.

One of the team’s main goals in the offseason was to get younger and more athletic. To that end, the Lakers have a couple of players on the team that could realistically enjoy a breakout season. But there is one player in particular, whom head coach JJ Redick has spoken highly of during Lakers’ training camp so far, and that’s Adou Thiero.

Adou Thiero set for breakout Lakers season

Los Angeles Lakers guard Adou Thiero (1) warms up before a game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center.
Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images

If there’s one player on the roster who conceivably has the best chance at having a breakout year, it’s the second-year wing out of Arkansas. Thiero’s athletic gifts are second-to-none on the team. It’s already a running joke from Lakers fans on social media that he always seems to be in awkward situations athletically, that no player needs to be in.

He is a high-flying forward who is looking to throw it down every time he is just somewhat in the vicinity of the rim. Of all the players on the Lakers’ roster, Thiero arguably has the most untapped potential. He was limited during his rookie season due to various injury issues, but he’s coming into this year with a clean slate of health.

During the Lakers’ first preseason game on Oct. 5, he finished with a balanced stat line of three points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals. He followed that up with a start the very next day and finished with seven points on 50 percent shooting to go along with four rebounds.

He was in the starting lineup again for the Lakers’ third preseason game, finishing with six points, three rebounds, one assist, two steals and two blocked shots. If those two games are any indication, it’s that Redick trusts him and has confidence in him to play regular rotation minutes this upcoming season.

There are some things that Thiero does need to work on if he wants to have a breakout season for the Lakers. Namely, that’s his offense. His finishing needs to get better, and that comes with slowing the game down and being smarter rather than just relying on athleticism. And he needs to develop a reliable shot. He shot only 14.3 percent from 3-point range during summer league, and he has yet to hit a 3-pointer in preseason.

But the main area of focus where Thiero can help the Lakers is on the defensive end. His on-ball pressure during the first few preseason games was noticeable. And with plenty of offensive options on the court, defense is going to be the easiest way he can earn regular rotation minutes.

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He is dealing with an injury at the moment, and thus, did not play in the Lakers’ final two preseason games. But following team shootaround on Friday, Redick acknowledged that it was just maintenance as far as his unavailability.

The former Kentucky and Arkansas standout played sparingly as a rookie, showing flashes here and there while spending quality time gaining reps in the G League amid his injury recovery. With essentially, a brand new roster, there are minutes available in the rotation. It’s going to be up to him to seize that opportunity and show why the Lakers felt so confident to trade up in the draft to select him.