Los Angeles Lakers: Which approach should team follow

There is strong debate among fans about what the Los Angeles Lakers should do this offseason. The differences of opinion are almost philosophical in nature.

There are essentially two types of plans the Los Angeles Lakers could choose to follow this offseason. Which one is the way to go?

1. Win Now– Supporters of this approach are willing to revamp the Lakers roster as much as necessary. They want the team to sign as many star free agents as possible, using their young core as trading chips to acquire other established stars.

The goal of this strategy is to assemble a new “super-team” designed to challenge for a championship immediately. Those in favor doubt that any of the young players on the Lakers roster will ever become good enough to lead the team to a title. Instead, they believe the Lakers need to acquire existing stars.

Following this program would entail signing multiple free agents such as Paul George, LeBron James and DeMarcus Cousins this summer. Then, they would sign or trade for others, such as Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler and Klay Thompson, next year or sooner.

That strategy has worked before, albeit on a short-term basis. Boston used it in 2007 when it teamed Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen with All-Star Paul Pierce and then won the 2008 title. Miami also did something similar in 2010 when star Dwyane Wade helped recruit James and Chris Bosh, and later also Allen, and won back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013.

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However, creating a “super-team” is far from a sure-fire plan. In 2013, it backfired horribly on the Nets, who traded for Garnett, Pierce and Jason Terry to add to Joe Johnson, Deron Williams and Brook Lopez.

Instead of bringing an instant title, it ended up being probably the worst trade in NBA history. The Nets would have been much better off keeping the three first-round draft picks they surrendered (plus the right to swap the fourth pick).

Closer to home, Laker fans should recall that LA also failed three different times with their “super-teams”.

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In 2012, they acquired Steve Nash and Dwight Howard to play with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol in anticipation of a title that never materialized. In 2004, they signed Karl Malone and Gary Payton to team with Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe, and made it to the Finals before losing. Back in 1968, they traded for Wilt Chamberlain to play alongside Elgin Baylor and Jerry West, but still lost in the Finals twice more before finally winning a title in 1972 after Baylor retired due to injury.

Laker fans should note that the current roster, while quite promising, doesn’t have an All-Star like Pierce or Wade to team with incoming stars.

2. Build Now to Contend Later– This could also be called the “Wait for the Young Core to Fully Develop” strategy. There’s an undeniable appeal to fans to watch the guys your team drafted stay together and win a championship.

If the Lakers followed this road, they would re-sign Julius Randle and hold onto the young core of Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart. The target to challenge for a title would be in two or three years, not immediately. As a corollary, the team would presumably then be a sustainable contender for many years going forward.

It’s the model that’s been so successful for Golden State. They stayed with their young core (Steph Curry, Thompson, Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes) and of course those players did indeed develop enough to lead the team to a title. Other key players (like Kevin Durant and Andre Iguodala) were added through trade or free agency. The result is that the Warriors have been crowned champs twice in the last three years, and may well win it again this year.

The Oklahoma City Thunder tried the same strategy, banking on high draft picks Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden. It got them as far as one Finals appearance, but they haven’t won a title, and only Westbrook is still with the team.

This approach didn’t even work that well for many other teams through the years whose young players simply weren’t good enough. Bottom line, it isn’t an infallible recipe for winning a title either.

So, what’s the best approach for the Lakers? The truth is that they don’t have to rely exclusively on one extreme or the other. Instead, they can mix and match a bit.

The opinion here leans more towards the “Build Now” approach, believing that the best path for the Lakers would be the following.

• Re-signing Randle
• Keeping the remaining core intact
• Trying to sign just one max free agent this year- Paul George. They should pass on both James and Cousins.
• Filling the roster by adding a few veterans, possibly on one-year contracts, focusing on those who wouldn’t disrupt team chemistry. That could include one or more players from this year’s team.
• The immediate goal should be making the playoffs next season so that all the young players gain valuable postseason experience
• A year from now, the front office will be able to evaluate the team more fully and decide what else is needed, perhaps in the form of 2019 free agents, to return the franchise to NBA title contention

Next: Los Angeles Lakers: 5 Possible Outcomes This Offseason

Do you agree? Or do you have a different opinion?

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