Los Angeles Lakers: 3 biggest problems to fix this summer
2. Put together a great roster around LeBron James that sets the Lakers up for long-term success
It was a miracle, right? The Lakers won the No. 4 pick in the NBA Lottery for the 2019 Draft. That changed things, maybe the Lakers don’t need to give up many players to get a key player like Kawhi Leonard or Klay Thompson to surround the “Young Core”, who Magic Johnson said is special on First Take today. He feels LeBron plus the young core and another star can go far and beat the Golden State Warriors, the only team he feels is the team to beat.
There was rumored to be bad blood between the Lakers and the New Orleans Pelicans. The Lakers couldn’t give up anyone or any combination of players to get Anthony Davis. Gayle Benson, the Pelicans owner, was also rumored to not want to trade with the Lakers, but that was refuted.
Let’s just say Anthony Davis doesn’t come to the Lakers; someone does need to come to LA to join LeBron James. LeBron went out of his way to go talk to Kawhi Leonard recently in Philadelphia during the NBA Playoffs. We heard that Kyrie Irving winked at Jackie MacMullan and Brian Windhorst after being asked about the Lakers. Guess it’s okay for an NBA player or media folks to wink and not get fined for it.
Who will stay and who will go will be mostly Rob Pelinka’s decision. Let’s hope he discusses it with LeBron James and the two have a great understanding and healthy relationship for the rest of his contract.
Magic says LeBron is going nowhere and that the Lakers will not trade LeBron. Magic says James took aside Lonzo Ball and worked with Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram. James brought Ball onto his show and Magic said on First Take that James wants to be responsible to bring a championship back to Los Angeles.
He feels he would want to buy the Lakers, Kobe would want to buy the Lakers, and that the Lakers are No. 1 in selling jerseys and sold out every season even when losing.
Get one more star, bring back the young core, bring in a few longer-term glue guys and move forward to make the playoffs and beyond. Keep it simple and it will work.