First-year head coach JJ Redick will likely have to experiment with the Los Angeles Lakers roster he was given, and a young shooting guard has seemingly already caught his eye.
A recent report recapping the Lakers' interesting offseason indicates that a 21-year-old guard will experience an uptick in minutes in 2024-25.
“Their (Los Angeles Lakers) biggest signing was Max Christie,” ESPN writer Brian Windhorst stated on "The Hoop Collective" podcast. “And they signed him to that contract with the intent to play him a lot. So, they’re going to play Austin Reaves, they’re going to play Christie.”
The rising player was used sparingly under Darvin Ham as a rookie and second-year pro, but the Lakers re-signed him to a four-year, $32 million deal on June 30.
Assuming Windhorst’s report holds merit, Christie should have no issue surpassing the 14 minutes per game mark. He possesses qualities that make him a compelling piece in the Lakers’ second unit.
Offensively, Christie understands the importance of playing his part. When his teammates are attacking the paint, he remains wide on the perimeter while using his hands to highlight his availability. He has only attempted 180 threes in 108 games, but his calm stroke from behind the arc has paid dividends for him in Los Angeles.
Christie is a 37.8% long-range shooter heading into his third season. He can also blow past undisciplined defenders with a decisive rip-through move and resist the urge to over-penetrate in the lane.
Defensively, Christie is a stout on-ball defender with solid instincts. He swipes at the ball when slashers bring it down to their waist and uses his 6-foot-9 wingspan to challenge shots at different angles. As an off-ball defender, Christie implements the stunt-and-recover technique to slow down ball-handlers before returning to his original defensive assignment.
Christie’s statistics may not scream “impactful rotational player,” but his physical tools and attention to detail could catapult him into a more significant role with the Lakers. We'll see how J.J. Redick manages his minutes during the upcoming NBA season.
More NBA: Ex-Lakers big man and four-time All-Star reportedly giving up on NBA comeback
