Worst case scenario
With so many new faces on the roster, it will take some time to adjust. Everyone will have to buy into new roles, as some players may see their playing time diminished this season compared to in year’s past. That is where the worst case scenario could begin to creep up.
The worst-case scenario for the Lakers is the adjustment period taking longer than planned. If the losses begin piling up, will the front office remain patient and stick to developing the younger players? Will LeBron James stay the course with the young players, or will he begin pushing for more veteran players ready for the long haul?
From a playing time standpoint, things could get ugly if the losses are piling up. There are some strong personalities on this team. Will they be okay being on the bench for extended periods of time? With only five players allowed on the court at a time, there will be some players that get stuck on the bench more than they will like.
Trading away future draft picks or young players would represent a worst-case scenario for the Lakers. Blowing up the young core they worked so hard to build and retain the last two offseasons would be a short-sighted move that may help in the short-term, but would hurt the organization in the long-term.