Lakers Summer League Tournament Schedule Released

After strong play in their first three games, the Los Angeles Lakers have received a first round bye in the Las Vegas Summer League tournament

Even after entering last year’s Summer League with what was expected to be a dominant lineup of Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle, D’Angelo Russell and Larry Nance Jr. and winning only 1-of-5 games, excitement was still through the roof for the 2016 campaign.

Fans were hyped to see if all of the work D’Angelo Russell had been doing this offseason had actually paid off, how Brandon Ingram would fare against the big boys and how many posters LNJ would rack up before the season even started.

But despite all of the excitement, expectations were tempered on account of last season’s debacle. This was until the Lakers young squad absolutely destroyed the New Orleans Pelicans in their first game, making lottery pick, Buddy Hield look pedestrian in the process.

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Following this up with an impressive comeback victory against the Philadelphia 76ers that was capped off with a D’Loading game winner and another easy win over the Golden State Warriors, the tempered expectations were permanently destroyed, aspirations now turned to championship or bust.

Actually running plays, setting multiple screens in a set and moving the ball more than once a possession, the young Lakers team was finally fun to watch again.

Russell, like peer Devin Booker, quickly showed that he shouldn’t even be playing Summer League, Ingram showed flashes of who he could become down the line and Nance racked up the highlight after highlight earning the team a first round bye.

Awaiting the winner of the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Lakers next game will be on Thursday in round two of the tournament.

The hope is that the Celtics come away with the victory, as this would represent yet another interesting test for Brandon Ingram as he faces up with the third overall pick in the draft, Jaylen Brown.

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Nance Jr let it be known that the team has no intention of walking away from Las Vegas empty handed, so fully expect the Lakers to come out and put on a show.