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Checking in on the Lakers

Checking in on the Lakers hasn�t been a prideful task in the last few seasons. The team has been at the bottom, or near the bottom of the standings at the finish each of the last 3 seasons, this one included. At one-point last off-season, it appeared the purple and gold would finally exit the depths of the NSL and be a team at least competing for a playoff spot come season�s end. That obviously didn�t happen, and here the Lakers are, back at the top of the draft, with hopes for next season soaring ever-high again entering the off-season. Now here�s where things differentiate: Coming into last season, the Lakers were led by 3 starts in Cade Cunningham, Julius Randle, and Kristaps Porzingis. At the time, their respective overall ratings were 84, 82, and 83. However, GM Justin felt strongly about each player�s ability to improve over the course of the season and improve they did. Just as Julius and KP began to rise(both elevated to the mid 80�s) Cade went down. The team had a solid supporting cast, and many teams questioned the Lakers decision to disband after the Cade injury, but GM Justin decided it must be done to further the future interests of the team.

Then began the long season stretch of unwatchable Laker�s basketball. They�d sold off most pieces that contributed to winning basketball, and pivoted to amassing as many draft picks as they possibly could for the coming draft. Then, the big trade happened. In a move no one across the league saw coming, the Lakers sent Lonnie Walker, and a handful of picks to the rebuilding Hawks, for young star Jalen Green. You don�t often see young players, controlled for the foreseeable future shipped in the NSL, so this trade caught many across the league off-guard. It was a huge price to pay for the Lakers, including a projected top 8 pick in the 2023 draft but the Lakers got the deal done to get their guy. From there, there was some small levels of excitement in watching Jalen get accustomed to life, and playing in LA. Precious Achiuwa put up a couple of eye-popping box scores, and the Laker�s even won a few games. Hopefully, this period of Lakers basketball was merely a preview of what is to come.

And now we�re here. The Lakers still have a highly projected first round pick, courtesy of their own dismal record. They hope to luck into the Wembanyama sweepstakes, but they do feel quite good about the notion of securing a likely top 5, if not top 3 pick in this draft. They have 3 other first round picks, and picks number 31 and 33 overall as well. There will be movement, there must be. All 15 players currently on the roster are under contract for next season, and 6 incoming draft picks, do the math.

There will continue to be large scale changes for the Lakers come the turn of the off-season, as GM Justin looks to put together his first truly competitive team during his lengthening Lakers tenure. He has the framework, he�s got 2, borderline 3 star guards, a couple of young and interesting big men in Precious and Nnaji, and a bunch of young guys who�ve shown some level of potential. This team is sorely in need of a wing and could use another big man to fill out the roster. Those are the most likely areas where we see additions for the Lakers, and certainly area�s to keep an eye on.

The only thing for certain, which at this point has become a constant. The Laker�s aren�t done dealing, not even close.

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