The Los Angeles Lakers have an impressive young core, but how good can they become?
We have seen the full spectrum from this Los Angeles Lakers squad thus far. Losses to an improved Orlando Magic team both at home and on the road, as well as a nail-biter in Cleveland identify glaring weaknesses, especially in the fourth quarter.
Wins against the Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers also exhibit that this team can compete with anyone in the Western Conference.
Despite an up and down start, it is fair to state with confidence that this team can reach a higher plateau. But, that higher plateau can only be reached by the exploits of the young core surrounding LeBron James.
After a loss at home to the Orlando Magic, the passiveness of LeBron James in the fourth quarter controlled the narrative. Should he be more aggressive in winning time, perhaps?
However, the young core surrounding him have eluded blame. I certainly understand it is important to remember that these are young players in their second and third years learning how to play off the best player in the world. They are merely one year removed from being deemed the future of a franchise known for winning.
That said, this is a different NBA. More often we are seeing young players contribute to winning franchises. While the expectations may appear vast in terms of the outcome for this year, given the new faces, it remains a very important year for the Los Angeles Lakers young core. There is no reason not expect a certain level of production on a nightly basis from this group.
To this point, the four of them have shown flashes but have yet to carve out specific roles that can be dependable deep into a playoff run.
Kyle Kuzma leads the way in scoring at 16.4 points per game but must improve defensively. Josh Hart has been a steady presence on the defensive end and from the 3-point line. Brandon Ingram, probably the most intriguing of this group, has been productive but lacks the aggressiveness to this point that enables the great players in this league.
And then you have Lonzo Ball. Ball, I find to be, as the player in this young core with the most to prove, as well as the most out of place.
He is a pass-first point guard with the ability to push the pace and find open shooters. He struggles with turnovers at times, but his court vision and passing acumen are enough to leave him on the floor at important points in games.
The problem; he plays with another ball dominant player in LeBron James. Often, Lonzo has been forced into a spot-up shooting role and his numbers have suffered because of it. He is shooting better from three this season at 35 percent, but his assists are down significantly, as well as his rebounds.
He remains an important piece of this Laker identity. It has been made clear through Magic Johnson, Luke Walton and the early play of this team, as the goal is to get out and run.
Lonzo is a dynamic passer and excels at pushing the pace, which is perfect for that style of offense. The hope is that his shooting will come around as he gains more confidence in his stroke coming off a knee injury.
The question moving forward is, how good can this core be together? I remain optimistic that these four will be a dynamic group down the line. There is simply too much talent there.
The strength of this group is their size. The starting lineup, all 6’6′ and above, will allow them to be one of the better defensive teams, particularly in the paint. They have improved their defensive efficiency rating from early in the season significantly.
All four, except for Kyle Kuzma at times, can put the ball on the floor and create offense. If they can find consistent shooting from guys like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Lance Stephenson, this team could be dangerous after the All-Star break.
That said, the clock is ticking. All four have trade value and the veterans on the team all are on expiring contracts. As we creep closer and closer to the edge of LeBron’s prime with every passing game, it will be difficult for Magic and Rob Pelinka not to pull the trigger on a quick fix.
So, while it is fair to suggest that this year is a quest for second place behind the Golden State Warriors, signs must be displayed that the front office can maneuver with confidence that these four can be built around and not relegated to mere trade pieces.
This franchise has been patient in the wake of Kobe Bryant’s retirement. After signing LeBron James, everyone is under a microscope. Dependent on how much patience the Lakers’ front office has left, we could be looking at the beginning of something special in Los Angeles moving into next summer.