Similar to the past few seasons, ESPN has once again projected that the Los Angeles Lakers will finish at the bottom of the standings in the Western Conference
ESPN recently released their “Forecast: 2016 West/East Standings” and it should come as no surprise the that Los Angeles Lakers again sat near the very bottom of the dog pile.
With only relatively minor additions of Luol Deng, Timofey Mozgov, Brandon Ingram and Ivica Zubac, similar to the Minnesota Timberwolves upon drafting Karl-Anthony Towns, a return to prominence is arguably still a few years in the future. Ironically, the rankings still have the Timberpups narrowly missing the Playoffs, coming in at tenth overall.
In their power ranking, each team was given a quick blurb about why they were rated as such, and the Lakers’ was simple enough to understand.
"The 2016-17 season will be the first since 1995-96 without Kobe Bryant in a Lakers uniform. Kobe’s retirement might not help ticket sales, but it will give D’Angelo Russell and Brandon Ingram a chance to shine in L.A.’s spotlight. That should allow the Lakers a chance to improve on a franchise-worst 17 wins last season."
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Were this prediction to actually come to fruition, which could happen especially due to Coach Luke Walton‘s insistence that this season won’t be judged on wins and losses, the silver lining is easy to take away.
This upcoming season, the Lakers’ draft pick is once again promised to the Philadelphia 76ers, but like years past — top five protected in 2015 and the top three protected last season — this projection has the Lakers keeping their draft pick based solely on the standings.
While it’s almost impossible that the draft order stays unchanged for a second consecutive year, the Lakers, like the Boston Celtics’ pick from the Brooklyn Nets last year, would technically have a 46.9 percent chance — 15.6 percent first, 15.7 percent second, 15.6 percent third — of landing a top three pick if they finished third last overall… And though the past has no bearing on future outcomes, I like our chances.
This would leave the Lakers with the chance to draft the likes of Harry Giles, Josh Jackson or Dennis Smith Jr, some of the top prospects in the upcoming draft that is arguably much deeper and more talented in comparison to recent years.
Further, if Mitch Kupchak wanted to stay true to what he’s been saying about having too many young guys, the Lakers could also ship this pick out to get a veteran that could try to help sway Russell Westbrook back home.
Next: Latest on the Russell Westbrook Trade Front
Honestly, this prediction is just that, an educated guess at best, but it’s nice to find the positives out of what little ESPN gives the Lakers these days.