Lake Show Life
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Los Angeles Lakers have a very bright future with young core

By Phillip Hawkins

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 26: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives against Dennis Schroder #17 of the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena on February 26, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 26: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives against Dennis Schroder #17 of the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena on February 26, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers have set themselves up to have a very bright future.

At this time last year, the Los Angeles Lakers had only won 19 games and already lost 43. My how things have changed in just one season. The days of D’Angelo Russell, Marcelinho Huertas and Tarik Black are long gone.

Looking at the roster from then to the roster now, it has gone in a complete 180-degree turn. Now with 28 wins, already surpassing their total from last season, the Lakers are moving in the right direction and it all started this summer.

Drafting Lonzo & Kuzma

Everything changed for the Lakers during the 2017 NBA Draft when they took Lonzo Ball No. 2 overall and stole Kyle Kuzma with the 27th pick. From that day on, the direction of the franchise changed instantly.

Drafting these players gave Lakers fans hope and a more solid direction of where the team was going in the future. So far, Lonzo has lived up to his Jason Kidd like expectation averaging 10.4 points, 7.1 assists and 7.1 rebounds a game.

Kuzma, on the other hand, has surprised a lot of people around the league. He’s averaging 15.3 points and 5.9 rebounds a game. With these two at the helm for the Lakers, the teams future is promising.

More from Lake Show Life

The IT Trade

Last year, if you would’ve told any Lakers fan that Isaiah Thomas would be on the team now they’d call you a liar. Well, never say never. Yes, Thomas isn’t the same MVP caliber player he was last year, but he definitely is an improvement.

Since coming to the Lakers Thomas is averaging 13 points a game coming off the bench. The duo of he and Lonzo running the guard positions is going to be exciting to watch.

The only issue with acquiring Thomas is his contract expires after this season. We’ll see what the Lakers decide to do with him after this season, but if he can return to his old self the Lakers will be a scary team moving forward.

The growth of Brandon Ingram

In just two seasons Brandon Ingram is developing into the player the Lakers wanted him to become when they drafted him in 2016. From averaging 9.4 points his rookie year and 16.2 points now you can see the growth in Ingram’s game.

Before this season, Magic Johnson challenged Ingram to average 20 points per game. Although he might not average 20, he’s definitely improving towards that mark. For just two years in the league with him, Lonzo and Kuzma the future is bright.

Next: 50 Greatest Players In Lakers Franchise History

With 20 games left in the season, the Lakers are 6.5 games out of the eight seed in the West.  We’ll see if they can make a late-season push to get that eighth spot.

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