The Lakers will be better, but they are still a ways away from making the playoffs.
It’s odd talking about the Lakers as a lottery team, yet is what they were last season, and who they will be again this season. The return of Kobe Bryant will help and make them more watchable, but this team simply lacks the talent needed to make the playoffs in the West.
Bryant may be back, but gone is Pau Gasol. Being unable to sign any of the league’s top free agents, the Lakers took the same approach from the previous offseason – signing role players to shortterm contracts.
A few players from last season were brought back. Nick Young signed a four-year deal, though he will miss eight weeks due to a thumb injury. Despite Young’s somewhat erratic and selfish play, he can score the basketball and is a crowd pleaser who fits well in Los Angeles. Forwards Jordan Hill and Ryan Kelly, along with swingman Wesley Johnson and guard Xavier Henry, were also re-signed.
New faces include Ed Davis and Wayne Ellington. Davis could end up being one of the more productive players for Los Angeles, if given the playing time (I’ll get to this in a second). Ellington is a solid 3-point shooter who should get an opportunity to earn a spot on the roster for the long term.
Jeremy Lin came via trade, and will be a big upgrade at point guard. Lin isn’t a great defender and still has issues turning the ball over, but will provide a lot of offense, and will see plenty of action now that Steve Nash is out for the season.
In a head scratching move, the Lakers claimed Carlos Boozer off of waivers. Boozer is a name, but hasn’t been a productive player since his early days in Chicago. He still has value, particularly on the offensive end, but considering the Lakers seem aware of their status as a lottery team (at least should be aware), Ed Davis and rookie Julius Randle would be comparable options at this point, and both come with upside.
And that gets us to Randle. The rookie from Kentucky has a considerable amount of upside, and could end up as key piece of the Lakers once they return to the playoffs. He’s aggressive in the post on both ends, but developing a mid-range jump shot is the next step in his development.
Prediction
The Lakers will be better this year — the return of Bryant guarantees that. A starting lineup of Lin, Bryant, (Johnson?), Boozer, and Hill is solid, and Young will be a spark off the bench, but the Lakers simply lack the depth needed in the West.
New coach Byron Scott comes with plenty of experience, but apparently does not believe 3-pointers win you championships. That’s fine (believe what you want right?), expect hitting 3-pointers has been a focal point for the two most recent NBA champions the Spurs and Heat.
Considering the lack of talent already on the roster, the injuries, and their play in preseason, the Lakers look primed for another season in the lottery. I predict a 30-52 season, which is a slight improvement over last season. They will be more entertaining to watch, but fans will have to wait at least another year for playoff basketball.
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