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Los Angeles Lakers: What the team should do this offseason

By C.J. Mendenhall

NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 22: Julius Randle #30 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 22, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 22: Julius Randle #30 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 22, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers have a busy offseason ahead of them. Here are a few things they should do to improve the roster.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been stuck in a rebuilding phase for five years now. Other fanbases may be used to such things, but for Laker fans, the wait has been agonizing. For the first time since Kobe Bryant ruptured his Achilles, there is finally light at the end of the tunnel. Now the front office must be very careful with their options.

If you haven’t been living under a rock, you know the Lakers‘ front office hopes to sign two superstars this summer. Since taking over midway through the 2016-17 season, Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka have made this scenario a possibility.

The two superstars that the Lakers have been linked to the most are Paul George and LeBron James. Last year, when George told the Pacers he would not be returning after the 2017-18 season, he also told them his preferred trade destination was to the Lakers.

George grew up idolizing Kobe Bryant, while living in Palmdale, CA. A few years ago he named his new dog “Kobe” after the basketball legend. It has long been rumored that he would love to return home and play for the Lakers and be the star they’ve been missing since Kobe retired.

Well, the Pacers traded him to Oklahoma City, but George can still be an unrestricted free agent this summer. It’s been hard to gauge if he liked OKC enough to stay, but Las Vegas odds have the Lakers as the favorite to land him this off-season.

So here’s the thing, with all the “superstar chasing” the Lakers will be doing this summer, it seems someone has been overlooked.

About a year ago, there was a 5’9″ point guard leading the Boston Celtics to an Eastern Conference Finals appearance. In the 2016-17 season, Isaiah Thomas led the league in 4th quarter scoring and was top-five in MVP voting. Thomas is currently a Laker, and he kind of fell into their laps.

The young Lakers showed a lot of promise, especially in the second half of the season, a time span during which they were one of the best teams in the league. Julius Randle, who is set to be a restricted free agent, was a huge part of that success.

So here’s what the Lakers need to do this summer. Don’t worry about LeBron James. If he does want to come to the Lakers, I certainly wouldn’t complain. However, there are other options that will keep the team competitive in the long-term.

The first priority, use the cap space the front office worked so hard to preserve and get an All-Star player on the team. Paul George fits perfectly. He can slide right into the shooting guard spot. He can really help get us back into contention and cause other stars around the league to take a closer look at the Lakers.

Now, the important part. The rest of the cap space doesn’t need to be spent on a second star to bring in. LeBron doesn’t really fit anyways, as the Lakers thrive on fast-paced offense with ball movement and interchangeable pieces. There’s a better way to use the remaining cap space.

Priority number two; re-sign Julius Randle. This guy is a beast. He was drafted and molded by the Lakers. He shared the court with Kobe Bryant. He just had a breakout season after transforming his body (as the Lakers asked him to do). He also wants to be a Laker. Letting Randle walk would be a huge mistake. He will be a 20 point, 10 rebound type guy for years to come.

Priority number three; re-sign Isaiah Thomas to a one-year contract to give him a chance to show he can still make a huge impact on a team. Or a two-year contract with a team option.

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I believe Thomas will be great again. With the Lakers needing a closer, who better than the “King of the 4th”? He also grew up a Lakers fan and felt like he “got his superpowers back” wearing the purple & gold.

Another important decision involves Brook Lopez. His new-found 3-point shot spaced the floor well for the Lakers, who led the league in points in the paint. Lopez also loved being a Laker and even said he would take less money to come back if the team looks like they could be back in contention.

With Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, and Josh Hart no longer rookies, there will be fewer mistakes and more wins, similar to the second half of this past season. They will probably make the playoffs next year even if they don’t reel in any big fish.

Of course, adding LeBron is very intriguing, but he will be 34 in December. The Lakers should be looking to build a sustainable dynasty.

The team was so fun to watch last season because of all the ball movement, pushing the pace, and spreading the scoring around. The team was cohesive. Three players,  Julius Randle, Brandon Ingram, and Kyle Kuzma, tied for leading the Lakers in points per game at 16.1.

There were quite a few close games (like overtime vs. Warriors TWICE) that a good closer could’ve pushed from a loss to a win. Paul George and Isaiah Thomas can be the ones to get the Lakers over the hump.

Meanwhile, players like Ingram and Kuzma are developing into star players. The Lakers figured it out in the second half of the season and are in good shape moving forward, even if they have the exact same roster next season.

In conclusion, I think it would be wise to use the cap space on ONE max-player. Preferably Paul George, but if that doesn’t happen they should go for DeMarcus Cousins, following Lakers’ history of having very dominant centers.

This would leave them with the cap space they need to re-sign Randle, Isaiah Thomas, and possibly Brook Lopez. A starting line-up of Ball/Thomas, George, Ingram, Randle, Lopez, with Kuzma and Hart off the bench would continue to grow into something special. And the Lakers wouldn’t be haunted by the undefeated father time.

One thing I can almost guarantee…it would be a big mistake to let Randle walk. Also, they should give Thomas the opportunity. He says he feels great, he’s still young, and if Paul George can come back from his leg injury, Isaiah Thomas can return to form, too.

Next: Los Angeles Lakers Ultimate Guide to 2018 Offseason

George and Thomas can be the stars alongside the budding stars and possibly make a deep playoff run.

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