Los Angeles Lakers: The Ultimate Guide to the 2018 Offseason

The Los Angeles Lakers should be optimistic about their future, as this offseason could change the direction of the franchise and the NBA landscape forever.

This season, fans of Los Angeles Lakers were provided fresh with optimism for the first time since the Kobe Bryant era. It was for good reason, too. In 2017, Lakers President of Basketball Ops. Magic Johnson landed hometown UCLA star Lonzo Ball, unknown prospect Kyle Kuzma from Utah, and two-way specialist Villanova champion Josh Hart in last year’s draft.

The expectations soared through the roof. Lonzo Ball’s father placed tremendous amounts of pressure on the rookie. D’Angelo Russell was shipped off to Brooklyn to acquire former All-Star center, Brook Lopez. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was signed to a lucrative $17M contract to help win now. Without a draft pick to tank for, Los Angeles intended to win as many games as possible.

This season went better than expected. The Lakers ended with a 35-47 record. Many people focused too much on LaVar Ball’s hysterical nonsense and much of the media praising Lonzo Ball. We need to analyze how Los Angeles has created itself a prime free agent destination, and why stars need to consider them, no matter who they are.

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