Last June’s NBA Draft turned the Los Angeles Lakers’ fate around from another potentially disastrous season to what most game analysts and even odd makers believe -- the league’s dark horse. Most Lakers fans (if not all) believe they now have the capability to break into the winning column.
But the rebuilding process isn’t complete yet, not according to magic johnson’s master plan. He wants to give fans another “Showtime Lakers.” One proof to this is the Lakers’ payroll for next season which can easily accommodate two certified superstars.
Tanking and two trades
Immediately after taking over as Lakers president of basketball operations, Magic waived his wand signaling the start of the rebuilding process. Lou Williams, the team’s leading scorer, was shipped to Houston before the trade deadline expires. Obviously, his tanking plan worked as they got Lonzo Ball, one of the odd makers’ top choices to bag the Rookie of the Year award.
With the Lakers locked in to get Lonzo Ball in the NBA Draft, Magic waived his wand again and sent D’Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov to Brooklyn. Then, the Lakers sent their 28th pick to Utah in exchange for the 30th and 42nd picks.
The Lakers got Brook Lopez from the Nets, who at 29, is already the third oldest player on the Lakers roster behind Luol Deng and Corey Brewer.
He’s a legitimate force down the baseline; however, his remaining one-year contract is seen as the main reason Lakers pushed for the trade.
The No. 27 overall pick from Brooklyn turned out to be Kyle Kuzma. From the Utah Jazz trade, they got Josh Hart and Thomas Bryant.
The two other promising rookies
Considered the Draft’s biggest steal, Kuzma averaged 21.9ppg, 6.4rpg, 2.7apg, 1.4bpg, and 1.1spg during the 2017 NBA Summer League, enough to be named to the All-Summer League Second Team.
He then dropped 30 points and 10 rebounds in the championship match against the Portland Trail Blazers. Kuzma was named the Summer League Championship Game MVP.
Hart played four years for the Villanova Wildcats where he helped bring the team’s second national title. In his senior year, Josh Hart bagged the Julius Erving Award and the Big East Player of the Year and was named to his second All-Big East First Team and his first Consensus All-America team.
The holdovers and the newcomer
Magic’s plan to build a new “Showtime Lakers” doesn’t mean he’s going to throw away everyone out. One of the holdovers from the previous Lakers roster is incoming sophomore Brandon Ingram whom he sees as the potential future of the team. Whether he’s taking Luol Deng’s spot as the starting No. 3 remains to be seen though.
Magic Johnson on Brandon Ingram: "This is a guy we're gonna build around. This is a guy we feel has All-Star potential."
— Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed) July 9, 2017
If Magic doesn’t plan on waving his wand anytime soon, Julius Randle will be back starting at No. 4. He will be given a breather by Larry Nance, Jr. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the only significant signee this season, is expected to start at No.
2, pushing Jordan Clarkson back to his more productive position which is coming off the bench.
Magic wants to put up a team composed of winners and he did a magnificent job forming a competitive roster this upcoming season. But is it enough to grab a playoff spot? One thing's for sure, though -- the road to rebuilding the Los Angeles Lakers has already begun.
