Los Angeles Lakers: Short term vs. long term dilemma
The Los Angeles Lakers are heading into one of the most important offseasons in recent history and are rumored to land some big named players. However, should the Lakers think more about long term than short term?
The Los Angeles Lakers are going to have a busy offseason. The summer of 2018 is shaping up to be one of the craziest free agencies in recent history. All offseason long the Lakers have been linked to multiple big name free agents as being the favorites to land two major stars.
Since Magic Johnson became president of basketball operations for the Lakers, he has stated many times that his main goal is to bring the purple and gold back into title contention.
As much as he has admired the Lakers young core of Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, and his No. 2 overall pick Lonzo Ball, he has also made it clear that he is not above trading away some of these pieces.
Hypothetically, if the Lakers were to trade For Kawhi Leonard and sign Lebron James and Paul George in free agency, they would be immediate title contenders.
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However, I’m skeptical as to whether or not that team would stay together for the next 3-6 years. I understand that Magic Johnson wants to win but I also think that he needs to be aware of the current landscape of the NBA.
Right now, as it stands, the Golden State Warriors are the powerhouse of the league and I do not believe that they are going anywhere for the foreseeable future. I understand that teams are in win-now mode but those particular teams, like the Houston Rockets and the Cleveland Cavaliers, have been in this battle since the Warriors first became dominant.
I am of the mindset that if you don’t see an option that helps you defeat the Golden State Warriors right away, the best thing to do is be patient and wait for the Warriors to decline.
The problem is that Lakers fans have been suffering through the worst five-year span in franchise history and are desperate for success. Would Lakers fans be satisfied with winning two titles in the next three years and then going back into the lottery? Or is sustaining constant success with multiple postseason appearances and a couple of titles similar to the San Antonio Spurs a more desirable route?
All I’m saying is that if Magic Johnson truly believes that a team of two max free agents plus a player like Kawhi Leonard can defeat the Golden State Warriors then you pull the trigger.
From my past experiences, teams like that tend to not stay together long. If there is even a hint of doubt that this potential pairing might not pan out then I think the smart thing to do would be to plan long-term and strive for success over a longer period of time.
Next: 5 Possible Outcomes For Lakers In Free Agency
Each scenario involves the Lakers potentially winning championships, but as much as I want to see the Lakers win a championship next year, I also want to ensure that I have a great team to watch for the next 10 years.