Lakers Optimism: The Silver Lining to the Clippers Blowout
By Scott Asai
Jan 7, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Jeremy Lin (17) shoots against Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) during the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Byron Scott joined Kobe Bryant in calling the Lakers performance against the Clippers “soft.”
Nothing new from the motivational speeches in L.A. lately, yet what’s the silver lining in getting throttled versus your crosstown rivals?
Change. It’s coming.
Regardless if management has given up on this season, the stage has been set to make some trades happen. The Lakers don’t have the luxury of waiting for the offseason. They need to do something now. It helps that around the league there have already been trades in December and January that usually wait until the February deadline.
The trade market is ripe.
Essentially Kobe and Byron calling the Lakers “soft” translates to: get us some better players.
For all the expiring contracts the Lakers own, they need to: trade them for future draft picks, flip them for assets or upgrade their roster.
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Three times recently the Lakers management waited too long and suffered tremendously for it.
First, hiring Mike Brown then firing him 5 games into the season.
Second, hiring then keeping Mike D’Antoni around way too long.
Third, refusing to trade Dwight Howard mid-season or hiring Phil Jackson as coach, instead letting him walk for nothing in 2013.
Historically the Lakers have been pioneers and even stealth in the way they made upgrades to their roster, but with Dr. Buss gone and Jim Buss running the show only confusion and desperation are apparent.
Even after Jeannie Buss’ address to fans via ESPN LA Radio, there’s no guarantee superstar free agents will flock to L.A. in 2015.
So our hope as fans is when it gets hot in the kitchen, someone gets burned.
That means players can be traded, coaches can be fired or changes will be made often fueled by emotion.
The Lakers have been reported to be active in trade talks which is a good sign, but until a transaction is made it’s all speculation and rumors.
So ultimately what’s the silver lining here? We only have at most 46 games to wait for better times.
Let the countdown begin.