Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the worst teams in the NBA in recent years. The lack of impact players, the presence of an aging Kobe Bryant, and a depleted roster has turned them into one of the worst teams in the Western Conference.
The future, however, is bright. The process started a few years ago with the arrival of Julius Randle, and then both Jordan Clarkson and D’Angelo Russell were added into the mix. The Lakers added yet another impact rookie in Brandon Ingram for this upcoming season. These four players should become the team’s core for the foreseeable future.
Ingram is a rookie who has drawn comparisons to Kevin Durant. Clarkson got a four-year, $50M deal this offseason. And Randle is still playing on his rookie contract. Russell, however, has the potential to become the best player in this group after a strong showing in the NBA Summer League:
Ingram isn’t lagging behind, though. He struggled a bit in terms of physicality and was a bit inconsistent at times, but showed improvement in every single game. He certainly has a few things similar to Kevin Durant in his game.
But there’s more.
The Lakers also have one of the most underrated young players in the league in Larry Nance Jr. The son of the former Cleveland Cavaliers star is one of the most exciting young players in The Association. His leaping ability and defensive talent could make him a valuable contributor in the team for years to come.
A team loaded with youngsters needs veteran leadership, and the Lakers aren’t short in that department either. Louis Williams can be the second unit leader while playing as a combo guard. Luol Deng signed a a four-year, $72M deal to become the starting small forward. And they also signed Timofey Mozgov to a massive four-year, $64 contract.
Several experts have criticized the Lakers’ front office for that contract, but if Mozgov plays like he did in 2015, then he could have a massive impact on the defensive end as an authentic rim protector.
The Lakers might not have enough talent to make the playoffs next year, but they should be pretty fun to watch. That’s a huge improvement in comparison to where the team was last year.