While the Los Angeles Lakers are currently piloted by LeBron James and Anthony Davis, there was a time not too long ago where the young core was the talk of the town and the team’s developmental skills were put to the test.
There were certainly some dark years as the team went eight straight years without making the playoffs but there was a lot of talent that came out of that period. The Lakers had an eye for talent, they just were missing that all-star player to pilot the ship.
There are former Lakers scattered across the league that are accomplishing great things in the league. Julius Randle was an all-star and is likely going to make an All-NBA team, Jordan Clarkson was this year’s Sixth Man of the Year and Brandon Ingram was an all-star last year and was named the Most Improved Player.
That is just counting the top three. There is plenty of quality rotation players, such as Ivica Zubac, Larry Nance Jr., Thomas Bryant, Mo Wagner, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and Josh Hart that were initially drafted and developed by the Lakers.
The Los Angeles Lakers should dip back into the well and bring former players back.
While the Lakers won’t be able to get the big-name players that have succeed outside of LA back, there are some talented options that once suited up in the purple and gold that could help the team next season.
We have to consider things such as the salary cap and the fit on the Lakers, so the three players chosen are all players that would fit nicely in LA and make sense to pursue. This is more than just potential pipe dreams.