Lake Show Life
Fansided

Los Angeles Lakers: 3 Ways to improve team this offseason

By Jonathan Kiernan

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 10: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers argues a call during the first half against the Denver Nuggets at The Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 10, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 10: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers argues a call during the first half against the Denver Nuggets at The Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 10, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
(Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

How to improve the Los Angeles Lakers: Sign Jeff Teague

Since the days of Magic Johnson and Nick Van Exel, the Los Angeles Lakers have not been able to lock down what some would consider a good point guard for more than 1 or 2 years at a time.

That is no disrespect to Derek Fisher who was an incredible role player for the Lakers and who knew his role perfectly beside Kobe Bryant.

The Lakers had D’Angelo Russell and later Lonzo Ball but for different reasons moved on from both players to land LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

It is now in the 2019-20 season that the need for a starting-caliber good point guard has never been more apparent for the purple and gold.

While LeBron James has finished the season as the number 1 assist man in the league (Incredible at the age of 35), the need for a secondary playmaker has never been more prevalent.

The likelihood of an all-star caliber point guard becoming available shortly are slim, however, the chances of landing a good starting-caliber point guard are possible.

One player the purple and gold should target is former Timberwolves and current Atlanta Hawks point guard Jeff Teague.

Teague is providing valuable minutes for the Hawks this season behind Trae Young but it is fair to say that they have very much under-utilized his abilities.

With a future superstar in Trae Young, Teague was never going to be more than a complementary piece to the Hawks. The fact that they are using him a shade over 20 minutes per game this season however does not bode well for Teague in Atlanta.

At 31 years of age, Teague would be better off finding a location where he is valued.
That location could be in Los Angeles.

While the Lakers do not have an abundance of cap space, they do have the mid-level exception to offer Teague. At this stage of his career, at his age and with him currently being a bench player for a perennial lottery team, it is about time Teague moves onto pastures anew and take less money to join a perennial contender and start for them.

In Los Angeles, Teague would be a perfect complement to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. He wouldn’t be asked to change his game hugely, he would be expected to bring the ball up in transition, score around his career average of 12.6ppg and be the secondary playmaker the purple and gold need.

Teague is capable of much more than he is currently showing with the Hawks.

You add Teague to the Lakers and you will see a motivated, sharp and ready to go point guard who will play his role to the best of his ability.

He may not be Damian Lillard or Kyrie Irving but Teague will do his job and will not take the ball out of LeBron James and Anthony Davis’ hands where it should be.

(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

How to improve the Los Angeles Lakers: Add offensive-minded assistant coach

The Los Angeles Lakers have been fantastic this year. All the credit in the World goes to head coach Frank Vogel and his experienced coaching staff including Jason Kidd, Lionel Hollins and Phil Handy amongst others.

They have turned this franchise around and have made the Lakers a contender overnight alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

However, the one thing the bubble has shown is that the Lakers could definitely use help on the offensive side of the ball.

One such solution for the Lakers’ offensive problems just became available. The New Orleans Pelicans fired Head Coach Alvin Gentry after a poor showing in the bubble.

The Pelicans’ loss could be the Lakers’ gain.

But how can the purple and gold fit Gentry on their coach staff? Well, a member of the Lakers’ current staff is said to be highly sought after for not just the New Orleans Pelicans position but the Brooklyn Nets job also according to the New York Times Marc Stein.

With Kidd in line to potentially be a head coach in the league soon, that free’s up space on the Lakers bench to add an offensive-minded guru in Gentry to an already vastly experienced bench.
The Lakers could also bring on board one of Gentry’s right-hand man Chris Finch to join the Lakers bench.

This coaching staff would be the perfect mixture of experience on both sides of the ball, coaches that demand the respect of each member of the Lakers roster and you also get Gentry and Finch who know how to best utilize Anthony Davis having coached him for several years.

Home/Lakers News