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Los Angeles Lakers: Is this the end of a championship era?

By Ed Schrenzel

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 25: Head coach Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the first half of Game Two of the Western Conference first-round playoff series at Phoenix Suns Arena on May 25, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 25: Head coach Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the first half of Game Two of the Western Conference first-round playoff series at Phoenix Suns Arena on May 25, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

In the aftermath of the Los Angeles Lakers‘ first-round loss to the Phoenix Suns, many frustrated fans on social media appear to “know” the truth about the team, specifically:

1) Father Time finally caught up to LeBron James and he will never again be a star

2) Since much-too-soft Anthony Davis can’t stay on the court, he should be traded

3) One year after coaching superbly in the 2020 postseason, Frank Vogel should be fired

As far as the team is concerned, it’s apparently downhill from here. All we got from the many trades and cap room moves was one title followed by mediocrity for the foreseeable future, right?

Well, not exactly. Reality check time. There are actually other factors to consider.

The Los Angeles Lakers’ top-heavy roster

To begin with, by design the Lakers constructed a top-heavy roster, more so than probably any other NBA team. That concept began when Magic Johnson was hired to lead the club back to the promised land.

Johnson had no patience to wait for the talented young core of players the Lakers had drafted to reach their potential. Instead, he believed the team needed to add two big-name stars, the sooner the better, no matter what the cost.

As a result, the club shipped out almost the entire young core to sign LeBron and trade for AD. Would the team have been better in the long run if they had stayed the course? Maybe yes, maybe no. Crystal balls never work that well.

But the reality is that it no longer matters. Yes, Julius Randle is this year’s most improved player, just as Brandon Ingram was last year, and both of them and D’Angelo Russell have been all-stars. And Lonzo Ball, Jordan Clarkson, Josh Hart, Larry Nance Jr and centers Ivica Zubac and Thomas Bryant have all become at least solid NBA players. But what’s done is done. There’s no going back.

In the same way, it doesn’t make a bit of difference if you think the Lakers should have kept Dwight Howard, JaVale McGee, or Rajon Rondo. That ship has also sailed.

What does matter is that the moves the front office made resulted in the Lakers winning their 17th NBA title last year. And what’s most relevant now is how competitive the team will be going forward.

So let’s look more closely at the two big stars.

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