Welcome to theScore's 2016-17 NBA preview, where you'll find comprehensive coverage of all 30 teams and storylines to watch this season.
When looking back at the storied history of the Los Angeles Lakers, not only would you find a litany of successful campaigns paired with the second-most NBA championships ever (16), but you'd see a who's who of some of the most recognizable and dominant superstars to ever put a ball in a basket.
Kobe Bryant is, arguably, the cream of the crop when it comes to Lakers legends, leading the franchise in a number of offensive statistical categories after 20 (mostly) incredible seasons in purple and gold. "The Black Mamba" has knocked down his last pull-up jumper, though, and as a result, the organization is left rudderless and without a real sense of identity for the first time in ages.
What remains are a group of youngsters who took a backseat to the five-time champion as the team prioritized giving Bryant a proper, nearly season-long sendoff. Experience is something they simply don't have, and while general manager Mitch Kupchak surrounded his budding core with a slew of veterans over the summer, none of them would leave a blip trying to fill Bryant's shoes.
That distinction will hopefully one day fall on one of the Lakers' recent draft selections. Management crashed and burned in free agency once again, so until the day a high-profile superstar elects to make his way to Hollywood, it will be on new head coach Luke Walton to build up his current roster and perhaps pick out one of the following three names to be the new face that runs the place.
G D'Angelo Russell
| G | MP | PPG | FG% | 3P% | RPG | APG | TOV | PER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80 | 28.2 | 13.2 | 41 | 35.1 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 2.5 | 13.2 |
Russell doesn't seem like the kind of player who would steer away from having more of the spotlight shining down on him. Sure, his behind-the-scenes escapades filming Nick Young and a private conversation they were having rightfully drew him a lot of heat, but that error in judgement shouldn't be enough to tarnish him forever.
Everyone loves a good redemption story, and Russell is in a prime position to excel in a grander role under a coach he's already begun establishing a close-knit bond with. Walton can take the 20-year-old Ohio State product under his wing and teach him what it takes to be a leader in a winning environment, making him more vocal during games and creating a talent the rest of the Lakers can rally behind.
Year one got extremely ugly at times, with former coach Byron Scott doing more harm than good in developing Russell by benching him during pivotal moments, which was occasionally justified. With a new lease on life, the leash should and likely will be longer as Russell has more room to learn, make mistakes, and become the player he needs to be.
F Brandon Ingram
| G | MP | PPG | FG% | 3P% | RPG | APG | TOV | PER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 34.6 | 17.3 | 44.2 | 41 | 6.8 | 2 | 2.3 | 22.5 |
(courtesy: Sports-Reference.com, Duke University)
Ingram is still a pup at 19 years old and with a rail-thin frame, you'd think a gust of wind could knock over just by looking at him. His physique will improve over time, so that's really only an issue now as he gets his first taste of how hard-hitting the pro game can be.
The Philadelphia 76ers essentially made Los Angeles' draft pick by taking Ben Simmons at No. 1, allowing Ingram - a highly skilled two-way prospect with a 7-foot-3 wingspan - to fall into the Lakers' lap. The Lakers were dead last in defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) last season at 109.3, and were consistently eaten alive at the wing positions. Ingram can help turn that weakness into a strength over time, as he possesses a remarkable awareness on that end of the floor for a man as unseasoned as he is.
Coming off the bench will hinder his numbers, but not necessarily the impact he makes. Working against second-unit players will help slowly work him into the fold, and not burden him too much out of the gate. The Lakers have a diamond in the rough with Ingram, and need to handle his growth with the utmost care.
PF Julius Randle
| G | MP | PPG | FG% | 3P% | RPG | APG | TOV | PER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81 | 28.2 | 11.3 | 42.9 | 27.8 | 10.2 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 13.9 |
"Going into my third year, or second year or whatever, we got so many young guys, and I'm kind of looked at as one of the leaders of the team," Randle said during the Lakers' Media Day on Monday. "I think it starts with me, D'Angelo, whoever it may be, to be over ourselves. Stats don't matter. It's about playing for each other."
Randle's willingness to take on a leadership position at just 21 years old says a lot about his character, as well as the makeup of the Lakers. Signing Timofey Mozgov and Luol Deng gives the Lakers a veteran presence Randle simply can't provide, but with over half of the roster under the age of 25, the former Kentucky Wildcat can be the voice of the youth and a locker-room leader to an impressionable group.
He may feel that "stats don't matter," but following a season where he was just one of nine players in the league to average a double-double with rebounds, his production simply can't be ignored. Randle's brand doesn't scream "Showtime" or have the flash and pizzazz to be considered box office, but that doesn't matter. He's the type of player you want fighting by your side in the trenches, and one you'd be happy to help build around.
