A 4-0 run in the Las Vegas Summer League has set up the Los Angeles Lakers to try and do something that has not happened since their highly-touted roster in 2017. They could be summer league champions. Those banners do not get hung at Crypto.com Arena, though. The real prize of continuing their offseason hoops is the added talent evaluation they have set themselves up for.
The first of those opportunities will come on Saturday, with the Lakers scheduled to face the Golden State Warriors in the semifinals. If Los Angeles can find redemption against the only team that has beaten them this summer, they will set up one more stage for their young guys to prove themselves.
The Las Vegas Summer League finale would be played on Sunday. It would feature the winner of the Lakers-Warriors clash and whoever comes out on top from the other semifinals featuring the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies.
This is nowhere near the level of NBA playoff basketball in terms of the pressure. Even so, the best of these young Lakers will see the opportunity to showcase themselves to the front office and coaches in a heightened environment. Rob Pelinka, JJ Redick, and company could get some important insight on which of their guys are most desperate (in the best possible way) for a real shot.
Lakers youngsters can plead their case in Las Vegas Summer League playoffs
The summer league is all about opportunity. For the more established prospects, it is all about the opportunity to build confidence for next season and even practice roles or offensive sets they may find themselves in when fall arrives.
Players like Cameron Carr and Adou Thiero know they have a level of comfort with the Lakers' main roster. While they can make their case for an increased role, there is overall security with how the top figureheads in the organization view their upside.
The same cannot be said for plenty of their current peers.
Someone like Chris Mañon can make a case for being elevated beyond a two-way spot on the Lakers. Another player like Arthur Kaluma can put a bow on his argument for even getting a two-way contract with a pair of impressive summer league playoff games.
These moments will matter for those young players, and the Lakers are certainly not going to waste the opportunity to gather further insight on their fringe roster guys either. Any type of playoff basketball is meaningful. This will be exactly that for everyone involved.
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