The Lakers’ top priority this season was supposed to be player development, but so far they’ve failed miserably
This series has taken a look at the complicated path the Lakers must take if they are to achieve their goals of competing for championships in the foreseeable future. The prior “Road to Relevance” pieces have already examined the upcoming free agency period and draft, as well as the players currently on the roster that the Lakers must strive to retain, all extremely important facets of the rebuild.
That said, the development and fostering of young talent, arguably the most critical aspect of the rebuild and something with which the Lakers have struggled with heavily since the beginning of the season, will be the current topic of discussion.
If the Lakers are to improve over the coming seasons, it will be paramount for their young players to grow and develop as well. Additionally, it will be important for the Lakers to make a point of adding additional young players, rather than the veterans they have favored thus far.
Last but not least, the Los Angeles Lakers’ front office must find a coaching staff willing to mold this young team into the champions they would like them to become.
Next: Finding the Right Coach
Coaching
The first step is to ensure that the team has a coaching staff suited to a developing team. At this point, the current coaching staff does not appear to be a good fit for the Lakers organization.
Byron Scott‘s coaching style has been maligned from the start, but when considered with player development in mind, his fit with the team appears even worse. Scott has mismanaged the minutes of young players consistently, as well as growing clearly frustrated with the mistakes that come along with the development of young players.
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This mentality should no longer be allowed in the Lakers organization, as the youth of the team is truly the only hope for the future. Byron Scott is currently a major barrier to the growth of the young players, as his latest gaffe has been playing D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle off the bench, as well as drastically decreasing their minutes.
This is far from his only mistake however, as he has also kept Tarik Black and Anthony Brown off the court for most of the season.
Scott has also created unnecessary tension in the locker room by consistently blaming his players for the team’s struggles. His comments throughout the season have even led to some players openly disagreeing with him, and his pass the buck mentality is far from that of an ideal leader.
Bringing in a coaching staff willing to allow young players time to grow, and facilitate that growth through strong leadership, will be a huge upgrade over the current situation in Lakerland.
The changes that will need to be made to ensure development go beyond the coach however, as the front office bears much of the blame for this season as well. The front office must abandon their current strategy of star-chasing, and focusing on adding quality young players who can be a part of the team in the long-term.
Signing players like Metta World Peace and Macelo Huertas, when those roster spots could have been given to young players like Jabari Brown and Robert Upshaw, is already looking like a huge mistake.
If the Lakers are to improve their overall trajectory, the front office must change things during this season. Veterans like Brandon Bass, and particularly Lou Williams, must be moved via trade to allow the young players more minutes and touches. Ideally the Lakers would acquire picks or young players in these deals, but even the opening of a roster spot could be valuable.
Cutting or trading veteran players, and bringing in younger ones, particularly those who already have a history with the team, could be a great start to building a cohesive unit in Los Angeles. However, this would be a major shift in approach for the Lakers front office, as they have been extremely reluctant to fully devote themselves to a complete rebuild.
Next: Developing LA's Young Stars
Players
In particular, the Lakers young trio of Jordan Clarkson, D’Angelo Russell, and Julius Randle will bear much of the responsibility.
While the organizational structure around them is important, much of the burden in achieving success will fall on the shoulders of the players themselves. In particular, the Lakers young trio of Jordan Clarkson, D’Angelo Russell, and Julius Randle will bear much of the responsibility.
These three players, all lottery level talents regardless of draft position, each have issues that they must address in order to reach their full potential. They also have strengths that they must take full advantage of if they want to succeed.
Jordan Clarkson
Jordan Clarkson was the first young player to prove to Laker fans that he deserved a significant role on the team going forward. He has already demonstrated improvement in this season, but will need to continue that trend in order to become the player the Lakers will need him to be.
In order to reach his full potential, Clarkson will have to play with consistent aggressiveness, as he has been passive at times this season. His improved three point shot will need to become increasingly reliable as his time in the NBA goes on, as this will allow him to impact the game in a variety of ways.
Most importantly, however, Clarkson must learn to use his tremendous physical abilities to become a true lock-down defender in the back-court.
Next: Julius Randle
Julius Randle
Julius Randle has had an up and down season coming off a catastrophic foot injury in his first NBA game. Although his speed and strength have made him unstoppable at times, his out of control playing style has cost him plenty of opportunities.
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Playing more under control and developing smoother ways to finish around the rim with both hands should be a point of emphasis for him during this season. Mastering a simple hook shot could go a long way to allowing him to score with far less effort.
Going forward, however, it will be important for Randle to extend his range to mid-range and beyond. Although Randle has shown the ability to make jumpers, and even threes, this season, his shot is far from a reliable option at this point. Becoming a deadly, or at least serviceable, shooter will open up driving lanes for Randle and make him more dangerous in pick and pop situations.
Julius Randle also has the potential to develop into a very good defender for the Lakers, and must do so if he is to become a truly elite player in this league. With quick feet and hands for a big man, Randle has already shown flashes of the imposing presence he can be on that end of the floor. With continued work and effort, the Lakers forward could be a intimidating figure on defense.
Next: D'Angelo Russell and Co.
D’Angelo Russell
The Lakers used the second overall pick on young point guard D’Angelo Russell this year, and in recent games he has shown exactly why. With a smooth jumper and handles, Russell is already a dangerous presence on the perimeter. However, it will be important for the lanky guard to become more aggressive, and attack the rim with more regularity in the future.
Although he has played fairly conservatively so far, Russell should be allowed to run the offense with more freedom. A passing savant in college, Russell has been mostly relegated to making rudimentary reads and passes in the NBA. It would definitely be beneficial for him to attempt to make more advanced plays and passes, and could help the Lakers in the long-term.
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Defensively, Russell does not possess the athleticism of the other young Lakers, but his superb length for a guard should allow him to become a disruptive presence. Once he learns to use that length to stifle smaller guards, he could actually be a positive defender for the Lakers.
Brown and Co.
For Anthony Brown, the most important improvement seems to be consistently hitting the three-ball, which should earn him playing time on this year’s team. Larry Nance Jr. has already shown impressive improvement this season, but continuing to expand his range will only make him more valuable. Tarik Black must improve his offensive repertoire, with the caveat that he should be receiving minutes regardless.
Next: Russell Over Okafor Was the Right Choice
The Lakers future is as bright as they choose to make it, but it will require improvement at every level of the organization. Both the front office and coaching staff must choose to favor youth, and the young players must respond with hard work and improved play. For the Lakers to return to relevance, the young players must seize the opportunity to resurrect a once-great franchise.