Los Angeles Lakers: Why L.A. is Still a Preferred Destination
By Scott Asai
The Los Angeles Lakers were silent during the trade deadline last week and when the media asked Mitch Kupchak what their #1 priority was going forward, he responded “the draft.”
The Lakers didn’t have many assets to offer other teams besides expiring contracts. They also didn’t want to take on additional salary and giving up draft picks was not on their agenda.
But here are a couple of “observations” that flew under the radar:
- Jordan Hill, when asked whether or not he was going to be traded, said he wanted to be in L.A.
- Carlos Boozer did not request a buyout to join a contender; he wanted to stay with the Lakers
- The Lakers are still competitive and the bench continues to cheer and support one another
These aren’t headline actions, yet paint a much more optimistic picture for the Lakers moving forward. Probably the biggest endorsement as of late was from former Sun, now Heat point guard Goran Dragic. The Lakers were one of three teams he preferred to be traded to (New York Knicks and Miami Heat being the other two) even though all three team’s records were much worse than Phoenix’s.
In the days where there is a “me” in team and players care about lifestyle and personal branding, L.A. still reigns supreme. Byron Scott has hinted that Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak have a master plan and he grins each time he mentions it. Lakers fans don’t have the utmost confidence in management based on the past couple of season’s transactions, yet we also don’t know the full strategy.
Scott hasn’t been impressive in his rookie stint as head coach, yet he still holds players accountable, runs “spirited” practices and there’s been no dissension in the locker room that’s lasted. Consider this season a “scrimmage” and the experimentation with lineups starts to make sense. He’s doing his best to build a winning culture, not only for this season’s team, but the teams to come. The Lakers will have plenty of money to spend the next two summers and potentially up to 4 draft picks this draft.
With a foundation of Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle, Tarik Black and Ed Davis plus Kobe Bryant and Nick Young willing to help recruit free agents, the Lakers should have a roster overhaul this summer. Essentially the Lakers have a solid “bench” based on the first 4 players mentioned above, now they just have to sign and draft their starters. Easier said than done, but with a bright future it makes the impossible that much more possible.
This season can’t end fast enough, but with the race to the “bottom 5” still alive the Lakers can become a playoff contender next season with a great offseason. This fan has hope, do you?