Los Angeles Lakers will be title contenders in the near future

The Los Angeles Lakers are a dynamic franchise chasing the challenge of building a dynasty, but you have to walk before you can run.

The Los Angeles Lakers organization is eager to take over the league, but that’s a goal that comes with many challenges. Building a dynasty requires effort and patience.

Take the Golden State Warriors for example, by selecting Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green in their respective draft years, they’ve displayed the importance of quality scouting.

The Lakers seem to be following suit by drafting Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart and Kyle Kuzma. If these players can reach All-Star levels like those in Golden State, we could be witnessing the beginnings of a dynasty.

It may not be fair to set such high expectations on these young players, but evidently Laker fans don’t expect anything less than excellence.

What’s the hold up?

Well, five years have gone by since the Lakers were last in the playoffs. Although Kobe Bryant was still playing, it was clear the organization was ready to rebuild.

It was bittersweet for Kobe fans. The players surrounding the five-time champion during his last years in the league were nowhere near enough to win a championship, but Kobe himself offered entertainment whenever he stepped foot on the court.

Fast forward to the present and the Lakers are considered a playoff team again. Once LeBron James signed the four-year $153.3 million dollar deal, the organization was filled with hope.

Unfortunately, there are some Lakers “fans” who despise LeBron so much that they will deface murals and refuse to cheer for him even though he now wears purple and gold.

Allow me to put things into perspective for you: LeBron signing with the Lakers not only makes them a playoff team now, it offers a sense of security for future free agent All-Stars when and if they consider signing with the team.

Since LeBron was willing to sign a long-term contract, it generates the idea that he trusts the organization. This year is just the beginning. Next year is when things will get interesting, and don’t discount the idea that the Lakers will stop after 2019.

Who is on the Lakers radar for 2019?

There are two players that I believe are very much a possibility to don purple and gold next season.

As of now, Klay Thompson is without question a potential 2019 free agent to join the Lakers.

Thompson has mentioned he intends to stay put, but have we not learned from the Paul George scenario. The majority of NBA fans believed he was destined for Los Angeles. It turned out that he felt the Oklahoma City Thunder was the team he wanted to sign with.

I’m not implying Thompson will definitely leave Golden State for Los Angeles, or anywhere for that matter. However, let’s not assume he’s guaranteed to remain a Warrior until that contract is signed.

You probably guessed it, but the second player I believe is on the Lakers radar next summer is Kawhi Leonard. I’ve discussed the Leonard trade in further detail in the past, but a recent report claims he still intends to sign with either the Los Angeles Clippers or Lakers.

Of course, this could tie back into the point I made earlier about the George scenario. Once the season comes to an end, he may feel comfortable as a Toronto Raptor and re-sign.

Whether it’s one of these two players, both or someone else, the odds of the Lakers adding another all-star at some point seem to be in their favor. Nothing is a guarantee, but that’s what makes free agency so exciting.