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Los Angeles Lakers: 5 Biggest reasons for the disappointing season

By Cameron Salce

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. /
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Los Angeles Lakers
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5. 2018 Draft Class

The Lakers’ 2018 draft class did not enter the season with same amount of hype as the last four previous seasons because they did not have a lottery pick for the first time since 2013. But with Moritz Wagner‘s spectacular performance in the 2018 NCAA tournament, and seeing a promising summer league showing from Svi Mykhailiuk, they were expected to make more of an impact than they did.

Svi showed spurts of promise throughout the first half of the season, and one could argue he became a benefit when he was flipped for Reggie Bullock because he proved to be a solid veteran piece. However, Mykhailiuk could have been the next Sasha Vujacic or the next future Lakers sniper three-point shooter, but he was dumped for player that might not come back next season on a team that did not even make the playoffs.

When it comes to their first-round pick Wagner, he got off to a really slow start to the season and he just never really recovered from it. A preseason injury made him break into the rotation even later than Svi did, which was a big shocker considering the Lakers apparent need for a center to start the season.

At 4.8 points per game in 43 games played, Wagner ranked 38th in the league in scoring in his rookie class. For comparison one of the Lakers’ G league players Jemerrio Jones who was pulled up late in the season, ranked 42nd in the rookie class with 4.5 points per game and showed just as much energy if not more off of the bench than Wagner did.

Wagner was supposed to be the stretch big man to replace Brook Lopez, but that plan crashed and burned like so many other ones hatched by Magic and Pelinka. So far, he looks like somewhat of a bust, but he could definitely have a much improved sophomore campaign with a healthy start to the season.

The Lakers got little to nothing in meaningful games from their rookies this season, and they could have drafted a couple of other players with their first-round pick that played better this season. Both Landry Shamet and Mitchell Robinson were on the board when the Lakers selected Wagner with the 25th overall pick, and they both look like they are on their way to have great NBA careers.

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