The Los Angeles Lakers are currently on the up and up but complacency has never been a trait of the Purple and Gold
The past few weeks for the Los Angeles Lakers has been like a dream come true which is only fitting considering the nightmare of a season fans were forced to endure this year.
Starting with Kobe Bryant‘s amazing final performance, to the firing of Byron Scott and hiring of Luke Walton, to Tuesday’s miracle in which the team retained their draft pick, let me be the first to say it’s about damn time!
More from Lake Show Life
- 2 Lakers who would benefit the most from a Kyrie Irving trade
- Victor Oladipo’s Russell Westbrook comments are terrible sign for Lakers
- 4 Free agent fits for the Lakers while they wait on Kyrie Irving
- 3 Most likely positions the Lakers will use for the last roster spot
- Kings signing castoffs from Lakers’ nightmare seasons is strange
The franchise has faced its fair share of turmoil throughout its almost 70 year existence, thoughts drifting specifically to the Kwame Brown–Chris Mihm era, but even then at least the franchise had Kobe to dull the pain.
Arguably, it has never been as bad as the past three seasons and statistically the numbers don’t lie. But today is the dawn of a new age in Los Angeles Lakers history. Primed with a young core, new coach, top two pick and a boatload of cash, the 2016-17 season represents the perfect storm for the Purple and Gold.
History can attest to the fact that the Lakers are far from a complacent organization so despite their recent good fortune, here are five bold moves the team could make in another attempt expedite their rebuild.
Next: Draft Ben Simmons then Trade Julius Randle
5. Draft Ben Simmons then Trade Julius Randle
If you’ve watched any NCAA basketball, or even just random Ben Simmons highlights, it isn’t hard to tell that Ben Simmons is a far superior building block to Julius Randle. Playing the same position and doing virtually the same things, should the Lakers draft Simmons it’s seems logically to think that Randle could be on the move and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
In his first actual season with the Lakers, Randle showed that he is a double-double threat on a night to night basis but also that he has a lot of room to grow — specific regards to developing a consistent outside shot, a right hand and defensively.
Mitch would prefer a dramatic improvement with the team as opposed to a slow build (via @TWCSportsNet)
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) May 6, 2016
Considering how general manger, Mitch Kupchak, said that he prefers a quick turnaround as opposed to a long rebuild, trading the junior out of Kentucky might be more ideal than waiting for him to develop his game, regardless of how high his ceiling could be.
Even though the chemistry factor between Ben Simmons and D’Angelo Russell from their high school playing days has been over hyped, the fact that they’ve played together before can’t hurt.
This, however, only happens if the Philadelphia 76ers pass on Ben Simmons. Keep in mind, who knows if what the Lakers could get back in return for Randle is even that high.
Next: Trade Up In the Draft
4. Package Lou Williams and the 32nd Pick to Try and Move Up in the Draft
Seeing how the market for trigger happy guard, Lou Williams, was relatively mum around the trade deadline, it’s doubtful that his value has risen that much in the last month. The Lakers’ front office claims that Williams, along with their young guns, is the core that they fully intend to move forward with but they’ve also said that no one is off limits.
Trading Williams and the 32nd pick to move up in the draft would likely mean that the Lakers would have to eat some contract in the process, but if Kevin Durant and the Thunder end up winning the NBA Finals, LA will have more cap space to waste come summertime.
Related Story: Could Zhou Qi Be An Option for LA at 32nd Overall?
Thon Maker is a prospect that many think will require development in the D-League before making his presence felt in the NBA, but could prove to be an interesting piece for LA at the five position. A lineup of D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, preferably Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle and Thon Maker would be a long, athletic, switch heavy monster similar to what the Milwaukee Bucks hoped to be this season.
We all know how well that worked out, but they’d be a force to be reckoned with if Luke Walton could get them to buy in on the defensive end of the floor. Additionally, a free flowing offense would work great with five players who are comfortable at handling the ball and knocking down outside shots, sans Randle in that department.
Next: Draft Ingram/Simmons and Trade Them For a Star
3. Draft Simmons/Ingram and Package Them For a Star Player
The Lakers are technically not allowed to trade their pick for a player unless that player is also packaged with a first round draft pick. This means that instead of trading the pick, the Lakers could field who their trade partner preferred, in regards to Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram, and go from there.
Seeing how Los Angeles will basically scoop up whoever the Philadelphia 76ers don’t pick this would likely limit their amount of trade partners. That said, unlike years past, there still isn’t a clear number one choice, and the Lakers know that and will use it to their advantage when talking to other teams.
Players like Jimmy Butler, Paul George, DeMarcus Cousins seem to be the most probable targets especially considering general manger, Mitch Kupchak’s latest comments about trading their draft pick but it’s unlikely that the draft pick alone would be enough to get a player of that caliber let alone an extra first round draft pick, something we’ll discuss in the next slide.
Further, this would be directly ignoring the situation that got them here in the first place — haphazardly trading for Steve Nash. Let’s hope that the Mitch and the front office has finally learned from their mistakes.
Next: Sign and Trade Jordan Clarkson
2. Sign and Trade Jordan Clarkson
This seems the most unlikely until you consider that the number two pick alone isn’t necessarily even enough to trade for a star player on its lonesome. Translation: The Lakers would likely have to package one of their coveted young core players to get anything back in return.
Looking at Julius Randle and D’Angelo Russell‘s harmless contracts, trading Clarkson might be the most realistic option as it could balloon into $14.5 million on average over a four year contract.
More from Lakers News
- 2 Lakers who would benefit the most from a Kyrie Irving trade
- Victor Oladipo’s Russell Westbrook comments are terrible sign for Lakers
- 3 Most likely positions the Lakers will use for the last roster spot
- Kings signing castoffs from Lakers’ nightmare seasons is strange
- ESPN predicts a better season for the Lakers even with Russell Westbrook
The junior guard out of the University of Missouri has shown great improvement over the course of his two season in the NBA, especially in regards to his outside and spot up shooting, but still remains a liability on the defensive end of the floor.
Alongside young buddies Randle and Russell, who aren’t defensive specialists by any means, the problem only compounds as attested to by their abysmal fourth worst, 106.9 points allowed per game last season. Unless the Lakers haul in a defensive center, a la Hassan Whiteside, this offseason this could become an issue moving forward.
It is the hope that Luke Walton will come in and reestablish the basic building blocks of defense that Byron Scott claimed to be a student of, but for now everything is up in the air.
Next: Steal Away Ettore Messina and/or David Blatt
1. Hire Ettore Messina and/or David Blatt as Assistant Coaches
If solely for the prospect of stealing them away from coaching elsewhere, the Lakers would be wise to try and lure Ettore Messina and David Blatt away from the San Antonio Spurs and unemployment respectively.
While it’s unlikely that Messina would leave the comfort of the Spurs’ 50 plus win machine, Blatt on the other hand seems like a legitimate possibility. Though he is drawing interest from various other teams including the Houston Rockets and formerly the New York Knicks, before being fired by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Blatt led the team to a 30-11 record only to be fired for a multitude of reasons beginning and ending with LeBron James.
Blatt has shown his coaching prowess, leading the Cavs to the NBA Finals in his first year as coach, and as Erik Spoestra can attest, coaching James is no cake walk. Using his experience with LeBron, Blatt would be the perfect candidate alongside Luke Walton to control the young egos that are likely to develop on the Lakers.
Reports are that the Lakers are considering bringing Brian Shaw back to coach alongside Walton, but David Blatt is a name that they shouldn’t miss out on.
Next: D'Angelo Russell Packing On Muscle This Summer
What are some bold moves you think the Lakers could pursue this offseason to make the jump to the next level?