15. Andrew Bogut, C

The former No. 1 pick has yet to make his preseason debut for the Lakers, delayed first by a visa issue and now a groin strain. He also plays perhaps the Lakers' deepest position and may not warrant a roster spot if the team would rather use more minutes on player development.

Bogut isn't a lock to make the team, although he probably doesn't sign a contract unless he really likes his odds. Plus, he has a few things working in his favor.

For starters, he has a history with head coach Luke Walton, as the two shared a tenure with the Golden State Warriors. If Bogut gets healthy, he's also a potential fix for L.A.'s broken defense (dead last in efficiency the last two years). He can also help bring the young bigs along, as he has already connected with 20-year-old 7-footer Ivica Zubac.

"He already has helped me a lot," Zubac said, per ESPN.com's Ohm Youngmisuk. "His parents are Croatian, and he spends every summer in Croatia, so we speak fluently. ... To have [Bogut] here and help me since I'm Croatian, it really means a lot to me."

14. Corey Brewer, SG/SF

In the past, Brewer intrigued with his physical tools, fully revved motor and defensive tenacity. Now, he's a quickly declining 31-year-old with myriad offensive problems.

He's a non-shooter in every sense. He has spent 10 seasons in the NBA and finished just two of them with a 30-plus three-point percentage. During each of the last two campaigns, he has posted the lowest player efficiency rating since his rookie year (9.9, then 9.1).

He does bring some defensive value, but he's too much of an offensive liability for that to matter. The Lakers should have better options in their rotation. That said, Brewer will provide fleeting on-court excitement as a capable receiver on Lonzo Ball's look-ahead passes.

13. Thomas Bryant, C

The 6'10" center is a different type of rim-runner. He's not an otherworldly athlete, but with a 7'6" wingspan, he doesn't have to be. He never lacks energy, motors down the court for transition scores and has even flashed some three-point range.

He's a project at both ends, and that's fine. He won't legally drink an adult beverage before his rookie campaign has closed. It will be even longer before his defensive impact mirrors his size. But the Lakers were thinking long term when they brought him onboard, and they'll be careful about seasoning him the right way.

Once an All-Star, two-way wing, Deng has now been reduced to his burdensome deal, which still has three years and $54 million left. Considering he's 32 years old—but he probably feels older after doing Tom Thibodeau duty—and coming off his least efficient season ever, the value of his stock is plummeting even though his cost is (slightly) going up.

That said, he could find himself in Walton's two-deep rotation, since the Lakers aren't exactly swimming in small forwards. Problem is, Deng is more effective as a small-ball power forward now, and L.A. has no need for him there.

11. Josh Hart, SG

Don't be fooled by the nagging injuries—Hart was a safe choice on draft night (acquired from the Utah Jazz). The consensus first-team All-American in 2016-17 doesn't have a ton of upside, but he could be a day-one helper in two areas of need.

"He's an ideal three-and-D player," a scout told Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated, "is somewhat athletic, can defend multiple positions and has this toughness, a chip on his shoulder."

Hart hasn't been able to show Lakers fans much, as an ankle injury bothered him at summer league and a hamstring issue popped up at training camp. But he's a good enough defender to carve out a small second-team role.

He's definitely behind Lonzo Ball, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Jordan Clarkson, and we have Tyler Ennis ahead of him, but there's a niche spot with Hart's name on it.