By Kevin Brent / contributor

These players have assumed differing roles in their Laker careers - now is the time to see what they can really do.

All that matters now, today, as we speak, is that the Sacramento Kings got better. All it took was for Keon Clark to sign for well short of what he's worth and the Kings are better. Instantly. Let's face it, he's part of the new breed of NBA baller, fitting the Kevin Garnett / Rasheed Wallace mode of athletic big men who can run the floor, play D, block just about any jumper a shooting guard tries to sneak one off near the paint, and rebound with any big body in the league. Sure, he's not as complete an offensive force as Wallace or KG, but he's still developing and that's, well, scary.

Amazingly, Clark was exactly what the Lakers and Kings both needed. He could've been a solution not only at PF for the Lakers, but as a potent backup to Shaq (think Theo Ratliff). And, of course, he solves the Kings' substantial rebounding woes, never more evident than in the Western Conference Finals. Perhaps the balance of power in the West really is in dispute when arguably the best free agent available signs with a "cow town" over Hollywood.

So all this means what? Well, it means the "projects," the cheerleaders you've all seen on the Lakers' bench for the past few years, will have to assume major roles. They'll have to step up and prove themselves. Damn it, they'll have to start earning their paychecks. So let's break down the key names on the Laker reserve roster, and figure out exactly in what capacity they will have to serve to make a successful championship run.

SLAVA MEDVEDENKO: If this isn't his year, it might never be, at least on this team. Slava has been berated publicly by Kobe for his work ethic, and challenged by Phil Jackson to play some semblance of defense. Offensively, once in rhythm (and it does take some time) Slava works extremely well around the hoop and has a nice baseline jumper from about ten feet and in. He has a nose for the ball, and displays an increasingly good selection of post moves and quick fade-aways. At 6'11'', his height and athleticism make him ideal to stick with someone like Clark, and cause match up problems if he plays the three. Will be expected, by committee, to back up Shaq. His toughness will truly be tested.

MARK MADSEN: Though many have already written off Mad Dog as a Jack Haley wannabee, he's tenacious enough, gritty and as determined to be an effective role player in this league as anyone. Plus, his hustle - though flailing and comical at times - is a rare quality in this age of primadonna "I'm not getting my shirt dirty!" NBA-ers. The unknown truth is that Madsen does have some offensive capabilities, and he stays within his limits. Of course, no one is more learned and more effective in his knowledge of the ever mystical Triangle. Add to that the fact that he is one of the best at executing the lost art of setting a pick, and you've got a player who could become crucial to his team. If only he could add about four inches to his frame.

SAMAKI WALKER: Not exactly the player capable of containing the power forwards of the almighty West, Samaki needs to show consistency and grit on defense and the ability to knock down the wide-open 10-15 foot jumpers he constantly finds himself facing within the Triangle. A.C. Green could do it. Horace Grant could do it. Samaki often balked and deferred. This year he must discard any propensity for hesitation and drop that shot or he'll hear that familiar substitution buzzer blaring from the wing. Samaki needs confidence and work, because he's tough, agile, and there is a year of championship experience now tucked neatly under his belt. His contract expires after this year, so it's, as they say, now or never.

KAREEM RUSH: To start the year with two strikes already against you on the scoreboard - inexperience and soft D - is an obstacle no rookie likes to face. Kareem is, no doubt, one of the elite players to emerge from this year's draft, but he's stuck behind Kobe (it's difficult to see him getting many reps at the 3) and Devean George (more on him later) and facing a frowning Phil Jackson who, for the millionth time, doesn't like to play rookies. In fact, his first comments upon the draft day trade which acquired Rush centered on the fact that Kareem had to prove he even belonged on the team in the first place, followed by Phil's discontent that a much needed back-up center was not acquired. That said, this is a kid who can make an impact, simply because he possesses that intangible quality not seen since Kobe first set foot on the Forum floor - unshakeable, brazen confidence. His belief in his ability to score both consistently and in crunch time just may earn him a spot in the rotation. If not, it will be interesting to see how he deals with passing Shaq the water bottle.

DEVEAN GEORGE: A sub who believes he can become a star. Sometimes in the NBA it takes a good contract to make a player believe he can ball with the best. When you get that "respect," as today's players have now deemed obscene amounts of cash, you fall into the company of the big boys and suddenly they don't look so big anymore. For George, his new deal may be exactly what it takes. Here's an athletic scorer, a deadly marksman who can defend with the best, he can jump out of the gym, and he plays with a chip on his shoulder. Not only did he have to prove he was worthy of a number 1 draft pick coming out of a D-III school, but he did so looking over his shoulder for the past three years waiting to get yanked back to the bench. Not so anymore. Devean could be in contention for Sixth Man this year, and there is nothing to stop him from getting 30 minutes of PT a night.

Sacramento's arsenal of weapons is indisputable and formidable, but the Kings still run into the same stumbling blocks no matter who reaps their latest massive signing bonus: no one can guard Kobe or Shaq (especially a suspect Doug Christie or the increasingly frail, flailing Divac) and Adelman will always be outcoached, when it matters the most, by Jackson. Will the Laker reserves step up to match the Kings' horses? The answers for now, as Phil may put it, lie in the stars.

Kevin Brent is a freelance writer who also owns and publishes INFLUX Magazine. He can be reached at kevin@vcpmedia.com.