It’s mid-September, and the Los Angeles Lakers are still stuck on the same old question: who’ll take the fifth starting spot when the new season tips off? According to beat reporter Jovan Buha, four guys are already penciled in — Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler, and Quentin Grimes. That leaves a whole bunch of candidates fighting for the last slot, though only a handful actually have starting-caliber talent.

　　Six names are in the mix for that final job. Buha says the team needs someone who can guard multiple positions — bigger wings and forwards, specifically — and also help on the defensive glass to ease the load on Doncic and Kessler. The six hopefuls: Jake LaRavia, Ziaire Williams, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Jarred Vanderbilt, Adou Thiero, and Matisse Thybulle.

　　Now, Vanderbilt has been around the longest of this group — he’s 27, been a Laker for a bit, and was once seen as the future of the team’s defense. But here’s the thing: Buha flat-out says head coach JJ Redick doesn’t trust him. And that lack of faith might force L.A. to look elsewhere. “Vanderbilt never fully earned Redick’s trust,” Buha noted. “When Redick had a full rotation the past two seasons, Vanderbilt was either the ninth man or completely out of the lineup.”

　　Multiple reports suggest the Lakers are shopping Vanderbilt, but no one’s biting on the remaining $25 million of his contract. He signed a four-year, $48 million deal before the 2023 season, but injuries and inconsistent play have knocked him out of the rotation entirely at times. Unless Los Angeles is willing to throw in a draft pick as a sweetener, finding a taker looks tough.

　　As for the other contenders? Mamukelashvili is a fan favorite — his dominant summer with the Georgian national team only cranked up the hype. But Buha thinks the defensive concerns when he shares the floor with Doncic and Reaves mean he’ll likely come off the bench.

　　So who’s the front-runner? Buha leans toward Ziaire Williams, the forward the Lakers just signed. “Williams clearly has a higher ceiling,” he said. “He’s developed into a high-volume three-point shooter, and news that he’s bulked up to 215 pounds makes him a serious candidate.”

　　Ultimately, the final call probably won’t come until after training camp and the preseason. Look at the Lakers’ earlier pursuit of Jonathan Kuminga — they clearly want a two-way player with athleticism. If you’re talking pure movement, Thiero (22) is the most gifted, but he’s too raw and young to be the immediate answer. Weighing everything — offense, defense, experience, upside — Williams might just be the best fit.