Lakers: Keepers from 2016-17 Season

The Los Angeles Lakers’ front office has plenty of scenarios for next year, mostly depending on how the draft lottery unfolds, but there are also low-profile decisions to be made to address the team roster.

Another unsuccessful season full of ups and downs is over for the Los Angeles Lakers, finishing at least on a positive note with five wins in six games, prompted by the team effort of a roster reduced to its young core and a bunch of players under evaluation.

With the veterans shut down for the final part of the season the depleted unit showed to be headed in the right direction displaying cohesiveness and an attempt to a renewed defensive commitment.

The coming offseason is full of unknowns for the Purple and Gold, starting with the draft lottery, when Magic Johnson, Rob Pelinka and Luke Walton will learn whether they are going to retain their pick (if it lands in the top three) or not.

In free agency, Magic will begin his quest for a superstar to install on the throne left vacant one year ago by Kobe Bryant’s retirement, while he will have to work on the hard task to get rid of the huge contract of either Luol Deng or Timofey Mozgov.

The young core is obviously a lock to return (though nobody seems untouchable under the new management), but almost all of the complementary players played on one-year or non-guaranteed contracts this season and they had a chance to make a case to be retained.

These players are not franchise changing kind of guys but they proved to be quality members enough to deserve a chance to come back as end-of-the-bench or inactive players, ready to hit the floor when needed and helping to build the right culture within the team.

So, let’s take a look to the unexpected contributors the season produced for the Lakers and why they should return as a part of the team next year.