It was yet another disappointing offseason for the Los Angeles Lakers, who were once again unable to attract any top tier free agents. With the inability to sign a superstar, the Lakers turned to plan B which has been the acquisitions of Roy Hibbert, Brandon Bass, and Lou Williams.
Does this satisfy Lakers fans? Probably not. Does it make them a more competitive team? Certainly, considering that last season they amassed merely 21 wins, recording a franchise-worst winning percentage.
But before dissecting the team, the most important component to Lakers’ success this season is going to be Kobe Bryant’s health yet again.
As we know, Bryant has been suffering unfortunate major injuries the last few seasons, sidelining him for extended periods of time and taking a toll on his body. Coming off a significant shoulder injury at age 37 is going to be another uphill battle for the five-time champion. Can he stay healthy? That’s become the theme for the future Hall of Famer the last couple of years.
Also, Bryant received plenty of off days last season, and that has to be taken into consideration again this season. Byron Scott hasn’t decided on rest days for Bryant yet, but it is certainly something that will happen.
Therefore, Bryant’s health and presence on the basketball court is going to be a major factor for the Lakers. This young team is going to need him healthy, as they require a veteran leader to lean on, especially in late-game situations.
Speaking of veteran leadership, the Lakers most recently added a long-time veteran to help with the growth of the youngsters by signing Metta World Peace to a non-guaranteed contract. Although the 15-year veteran’s deal is unguaranteed, he is expected to make the roster since the Lakers lack depth at the small forward position and Coach Scott is craving for more experienced players.
World Peace may not earn a starting position, but his on-court guidance and locker room presence is going to be an enormous advantage for this Lakers team.
As the Lakers have lost Ed Davis, Wesley Johnson, Jeremy Lin, Wayne Ellington, Jordan Hill, and Ronnie Price during free agency, they have replaced those guys with the aforementioned Hibbert, Bass, and Williams.
Hibbert, who has been descending the last couple of seasons with the Indiana Pacers, will now get a fresh start on a team that will heavily rely on his interior defense. The seven-footer has proven to be a solid rim protector due to his size, but his primary struggle has been rebounding. His career average of 6.8 rebounds is beyond abysmal for a seven-footer, but the Lakers have put a lot of faith in the two-time All-Star.
Bass and Williams, meanwhile, will become the main bench players this season. Williams is last season’s Sixth Man of the Year, as he averaged 15.5 points per outing. With Williams and the recovering Nick Young expected to come off the bench, it will be interesting to see if the offensive-minded duo can co-exist together.
If Young and Williams are able to mesh, the two, along with Bass, will make for an intimidating bench trio. Put that together with the high energy play of center Tarik Black and the Lakers may have themselves a phenomenal bench for the upcoming season.
The player that the entire Lakers nation has been waiting for, rookie D’Angelo Russell must demonstrate that his inadequate Summer League play was a fluke. The number two overall pick does indeed have a lot of pressure going into the season, but there is plenty of confidence within the organization that the young 19-year old will thrive in his rookie season.
Of course, if Bryant punches in another injury-ridden season, the weight of the team rests on the shoulders of Russell and Jordan Clarkson, who surprisingly delivered an outstanding rookie campaign. Clarkson was one of few positives for the Lakers last year, and the team is hopeful that the 23-year old will continue his strong play.
Lastly, the long-awaited return of Julius Randle has many Lakers fans excited as well. The number seven overall pick of the 2014 NBA draft played just one game before suffering a season-ending leg injury last season. Now, after rehabilitating all summer long, he is expected to play a major role as the starting power forward.
The Lakers surely don’t have a playoff-bound team, but they should be more competitive than last season. Without question, injuries will once again be the determining factor for this team’s success, mainly Bryant’s health.
Nevertheless, this should be the year of the young players for the Los Angeles Lakers, as each of them has something to prove, while the world may also sadly witness Kobe Bryant’s final season.