Despite all the preseason hype, the Los Angeles Lakers have officially failed to make the playoffs for a franchise-record sixth consecutive season. These three moves, albeit controversial, would be for the best.
The once-proud Los Angeles Lakers have now missed the playoffs more in the last six years than in the previous 65 years combined. There are many reasons why the Lakers fell short of this season’s higher expectations. But the most important issue now is what the team will do in the next few months to move the franchise back in the right direction.
Only seven players are signed for the 2019-20 season, so the Lakers will have ample opportunity to upgrade the roster. To begin with, they will rather surprisingly participate in the NBA draft lottery on May 14th.
If the season ended as of this writing, they’d likely land the 10th pick in the June 20th draft. Wherever that pick ends up, the should be able to select a highly talented player, one who can help the team for many years to come, assuming they don’t trade the pick.
Free agency begins on July 1st. This year, there may be more star players than usual looking for new teams, depending on which options are or are not exercised. The Lakers might also be able to explore trading for other stars. How much success they’ll have in adding any All-Star quality players is to be determined.
But, perhaps ownership should first focus its attention on a few more fundamental considerations regarding the structure of the team. By making the following three steps, the Lakers would have the greatest chance of future success.