GM: Rob Pelinka
Head coach: Luke Walton
2016-17 record: 26-56 (14th in the Western Conference)
2016-17 result: Didn’t make the playoffs
Key departures: D’Angelo Russell, Timofey Mozgov
Key acquisitions: Lonzo Ball, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Brook Lopez, Andrew Bogut, Kyle Kuzma
The Los Angeles Lakers finally seem to have restored the magic that’s been missing from their franchise throughout their four-year playoff drought.
Whether they’ll make the postseason (and fulfill LaVar Ball’s prediction) is yet to be seen. But behind a new front office duo in Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka, there’s reason to believe that the Lakers aren’t far away.
The Lakers have a legitimate franchise cornerstone in second overall pick Lonzo Ball. His passing abilities should breathe new life in the Lakers’ offence, much like they did at UCLA when Ball set the single season assist record, or at Summer League when he was named MVP.
Ball joins a Lakers roster filled with other promising young talents like Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr. and rookie fan-favourite Kyle Kuzma.
Nine-year pro and former all-star Brook Lopez was acquired from Brooklyn for D’Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov, and will join a leadership group that also includes a former champion in Andrew Bogut as well as veterans Luol Deng and Corey Brewer.
The Lakers also added a formidable presence to their starting lineup, signing restricted free agent Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The former Pistons guard is a defensive presence who is poised to average double-digits in scoring for the fourth straight year.
Potential Breakout Player
The pressure is on for Brandon Ingram, who didn’t have quite the rookie campaign some were expecting of him after getting selected second overall in the 2016 Draft. While he’s poise to get better— a lot better— Julius Randle seems more likely to have a breakout year in 2017-18.
Known for his high motor, Randle should look like a young Charles Barkley alongside Lonzo Ball, who’ll be throwing full-court passes his way all season long.
A former seventh overall pick, Randle posted career-highs with 13.2 points on 48.8 per cent shooting from the field to go along with 3.6 assists in 2016-17. At six-foot-nine and 250 pounds, the Lakers will also be able to continue to use him at centre when they need a spark, like they did for 33 per cent of his minutes last season.
What a successful 2017-18 would look like
After winning less than 30 games in each of the past four seasons, which included a franchise-worst 17-win campaign in 2015-16, hitting the 30-mark would be an accomplishment.
It’ll take time for everyone to get used to one another, a responsibility that will fall in the hands of Ball, whose progression wouldn’t only help the Lakers this season, but could go a long way to helping LeBron James and Paul George pick their newest destination come the summer of 2018 when they hit free agency.
