The Los Angeles Lakers are climbing ESPN’s NBA Future Power Rankings
The hype and excitement around the Los Angeles Lakers are building. It is odd to see so many discussions revolving around a team that has missed the postseason for four consecutive seasons, but that is what happens when you are a part of the one the greatest franchises in the NBA.
The Lakers are currently stuck in the worst stretch of seasons in franchise history, but the light at the end of the tunnel is near. The Lakers have a roster loaded with young talent led by a pair of No. 2 overall picks; 2016’s Brandon Ingram and 2017’s Lonzo Ball.
In addition to those high ceiling players, the Lakers also have Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, Ivica Zubac and Larry Nance Jr. Those youngsters will have great veterans to learn from with Corey Brewer, Luol Deng, Brook Lopez and Andrew Bogut providing leadership and plenty of experience.
The Lakers may not make the postseason following the 2017-18 season, but they are certainly heading in the right direction. Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka, the new front office management team, committed to the youth movement that Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss would not during the last years of the Kobe Bryant era. Part of the drought can be attributed to that, and Johnson and Pelinka are looking to get the organization back on track.
More from Lakers News
- Darvin Ham adds to Max Christie hype train after Lakers preseason opener
- Is LeBron James playing tonight? Latest Lakers vs Warriors update
- Can Darvin Ham put all of the Lakers puzzle pieces together?
- Lakers news: Darvin Ham knows his fifth starter, LeBron James and Rui Hachimura, Jalen Hood-Schifino praise
- Michael Malone’s painfully ironic comment has Lakers fans heated
ESPN also recognizes the movement in the right direction from the Lakers. Every year, ESPN releases future power rankings for how NBA teams will look the next three seasons. Teams are rated in five categories, with some holding more weight than others.
Those categories are players, management, money, market and draft. Players make up 58.3 percent of the grading. Management is 16.7, followed by 8.3 percent for money, market and draft.
In the previous edition of these rankings, the Lakers came in at No. 25. They have made a pretty sizeable jump this time, landing in the No. 17 spot. The Lakers overall was 47.7, as they were aided heavily by money and market, finishing second and first respectively.
Here is what Kevin Pelton had to say about the Lakers rating.
"The scoring system for the Future Power Rankings may not accurately capture the reasons for optimism in L.A. after last season’s management shakeup positioned the Lakers to be the biggest players in free agency next summer.Because most teams struggle to build through free agency — as the Lakers themselves have in recent seasons — money and market usually play a relatively small role in the final score. However, the Lakers’ combination of the top-rated market and the potential to clear more cap space than any other team has them poised to potentially sign a pair of max free agents. James and George? Westbrook? Lakers fans can dream big.A windfall in free agency might not make the Lakers’ young core into instant contenders, but it gives them far more upside by the end of the three-year window than many teams ahead of them."
It is a gutsy strategy for Johnson and Pelinka to put so much stock into free agency in 2018, but who can blame them? Look at the players Pelton mentioned; LeBron James, Paul George and Russell Westbrook. There are plenty of more, potentially, including DeMarcus Cousins, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul.
Right now, the Lakers have enough cap space next season for one max free agent, but they are confident they can clear more to have the chance at two max free agents. Adding two players of that caliber would greatly improve the Lakers future power ranking.
Next: 10 Greatest Free Agent Signings In Lakers History
The Lakers are on the up and up, looking to become a superpower in the NBA once again. Their strategy isn’t flawless, but they at least have a plan in place and direction they want to head. That could not be said in recent years for Los Angeles.