The Los Angeles Lakers went into the NBA off-season still licking their wounds from the worst campaign in team history. Injuries, a lack of talent, questionable on-court schemes, and more injuries had made the 2014-15 season a gauntlet of misery. Still, the off-season brought with it a modicum of hope, as it tends to do. After all, anything can happen when every team in the league has their record reset to 0-0. It wouldn’t be easy, but the next step in the rebuilding process was about to unfold.
Their massive, nervous fan base understood what they were up against in the brutal Western Conference, but still, this is the Lakers. The purple and gold have always found a way to get it done, and the off-season was to be the beginning of their rebirth.
— What will Kobe Bryant make this season? Find out here! —
The summer got off to a magical start when fortune smiled on the Lakers and they not only retained their top-five protected draft pick, but saw that pick move up from fourth overall to second. The jump was not only a stroke of good luck (something that has eluded Los Angeles in recent years), but also a balm, something to ease the pain of such a disastrous season.
The Lakers off-season war chest also featured the 27th and 34th picks, as well as a solid chunk of cap space to toss around in free agency. With hope restored, GM Mitch Kupchak put on his hard hat and set out to give Lakers fans a team that they could once again be proud of.
The results were mixed, but next season’s Lakers squad will look very different than the team we watched limp to the finish line in April. Now that the dust has settled and the NBA has all but entered hibernation, it’s time to break out the red pen and grade one of the most important off-seasons in Lakers history.
BEGIN SLIDESHOW: Grading Lakers’ 2015 NBA Draft
2015 NBA Draft
D’Angelo Russell (No. 2) – While most assumed that the Lakers would select a center (either Karl-Anthony Towns or Jahlil Okafor), they instead decided to throw a curve ball and take Ohio State guard, D’Angelo Russell. The league has been trending towards guards and Russell offers a combination of a tremendous skill set and the self-confidence necessary to become a star.
He also possesses an innate ability to pass the ball, which, combined with the court vision that being 6’5” creates, allows him to deliver some jaw-dropping assists. In the right offense, he is sure to produce oohs and ahs on a nightly basis. He also figures to pair well with Jordan Clarkson in creating a versatile, dynamic backcourt that could be igniting the Staples Center for the next decade.
While Russell’s lack of elite athleticism and turnover woes make him a risky selection, the Lakers have historically taken risks on superstars. While it’s far too early to consider D’Angelo a future star, he has the potential to one day be the best player in his draft class. A shaky Summer League showed that he still has a lot of work to do, but if he ends up becoming the Curry/Harden hybrid that some think he can, then the Lakers will have found a truly special player.
Grade: A
[divide]Larry Nance Jr. (No. 27) – Nance was a surprising pick, but he reportedly sold the Lakers during the workout process. He’s a high-energy player who brings solid defense and excels at hitting the offensive boards, but his jumper needs work before he will be a useful NBA contributor. His Summer League performance suggests that he has the potential to become a Rony Turiaf-esque fan favorite (he had Lakers fans chanting “Larry, Larry”), but with Julius Randle, Brandon Bass, and Ryan Kelly all needing minutes, it’s unlikely that Nance will make an impact right out of the gate.
While long-term, his high-flying dunks, grit and grind mentality could make him a useful asset, the conventional wisdom is that the Lakers could have traded down with from No. 27 and grabbed Nance in the second round, which would have eliminated the guaranteed salary that the first round offers. There were also better immediate fits and players with more accomplished pedigrees, such as R.J. Hunter or Montrezl Harrell.
Grade: C+
[divide]Anthony Brown (No. 34) – Most assumed that it would be Brown whose name would be called with the 27th pick in the draft, but the Lakers took a gamble on him still being there in the second round and it paid off. Brown’s length, mobility, and shooting ability make him the prototypical “3 and D” specialist, which is precisely what the Lakers need at this juncture. At 22, his long-term upside is a bit limited, but the perimeter defense that he flashed during Summer League will be a welcome addition to a team sorely lacking in plus-defenders. He seems aware of the fact that his ticket to making it as a pro revolves around him fitting into the role of floor-spacer and defender, so we know what he’s going to be working on over the summer. While his selection isn’t a home run, at this stage of the draft, he offered the best combination of fit and talent left on the board. Brown also grew up as a huge Lakers fan, so he gets some bonus points there.
Grade: B+
CONTINUE SLIDESHOW: Grading Lakers’ 2015 team options
2015 Team Options
Jordan Hill (declined) – This one was a no-brainer, as Hill clearly wasn’t worth the $9 million that his team option would have paid him. That’s not to say that he is a bad player, but his cap hit would have prevented the Lakers from having the opportunity to pursue max free agents.
Last season was a frustrating one for Hill, as his efforts to increase his range and a rise in minutes had a massive negative effect on his best skill: rebounding. His deal with the Pacers is for just $4 million, and hopefully the change of scenery will give him a chance to get back to doing what he does best. While it would have been nice to see the Lakers be able to retain him at such a cheap price, it was probably time to part ways.
Grade: A
[divide]Robert Sacre (exercised) – This was a tough call, as Sacre isn’t a great player, but he is a big body and solid locker room presence. At slightly less than $1 million for the season, on the surface it appeared sensible to keep the celebratory savant, even if only to use him as a trade piece down the road.
Unfortunately, Sacre’s true cost goes beyond his paycheck. He takes up a precious roster spot and with Tarik Black entrenched as Roy Hibbert’s backup, the Lakers would have been better off letting Sacre walk. With potential-laden Robert Upshaw still unsigned, but ready and willing to take the role of third string center, it was time to let Sacre move on. Instead, Kupchak was unable to get any value out of Sacre via trade, and is now stuck with a superfluous (but cheap) player clogging up an unbalanced roster.
Grade: D-
CONTINUE SLIDESHOW: Grading Lakers’ 2015 free agency
2015 Free Agency
Brandon Bass (two years, $6.1 million with player option) – Bass is a steady, efficient power forward who doesn’t make many mistakes, but isn’t likely to move the needle much either. His mid-range jumper will help with floor spacing and his free throw shooting is spectacular for his position (83 percent for his career). On the downside though, Bass isn’t a rim protector and his rebounding leaves a lot to be desired. In other words, he’s a solid role player, but that’s it.
Fortunately, Bass isn’t being paid solely for his production on the court, but also for his reputation as a veteran voice in the locker room. The youth movement is in full swing, but it’s important that the Lakers have experienced players aside from Kobe who can help carry the message from the coaching staff to the team. Byron Scott can talk all he wants about being a professional, but Bass can model how it’s done.
He will also be tasked with fast tracking Julius Randle’s transition from de facto rookie to key contributor (essentially inheriting Carlos Boozer’s role). If Bass is successful in this endeavor, then he will be well worth his modest salary, but still his signing isn’t the type of move that’s going to placate anxious Lakers fans or strike fear into the hearts of the Western Conference elite.
Grade: B-
[divide]Lou Williams (three years, $21 million) – In a vacuum, signing the reigning Sixth Man of the Year on a deal that will pay him just eight percent of the projected salary cap in 2016 and six percent in 2017 is an absolute home run. ‘Sweet Lou’ is a known commodity who can be a backup point guard in a pinch, which is certain to come in handy, but his best role is as a microwave-style scorer off the bench. He flourishes when he is provided with space to break his man down in isolation and is a master at getting to the free throw line, where he shot an impressive 86 percent last season.
However, the Lakers don’t operate in a vacuum and while Williams was a great value signing, his fit on the team is highly questionable. The main skill he brings to the table — his scoring — also happens to be the specialty of Nick Young, Kobe Bryant, Jordan Clarkson and Jabari Brown. That’s a lot of shoot-first players to share one basketball, giving Coach Scott the massive task of trying to stagger minutes, so there aren’t too many overlapping skill sets sharing the court at one time.
Of course, none of that is Williams’ fault, nor does it necessarily make him a bad signing. With Kobe’s recent injury history, it’s likely that he will be bubble wrapped for much of the season, and Brown is not a lock for major minutes. Swaggy P also has some work to do to earn back Byron’s trust, so his minutes may be limited as well. Additionally, Lou will likely spend some time running the point and dusting off his skills as a distributor, so the skill set duplication may not be as bad as it appears on paper. One way or another, the team will eventually be balanced and the primary concern for Mitch Kupchak this summer was to add talent and sort out fit later. For now, it’s mission accomplished.
Grade: B+
Trades
2019 second round pick for Roy Hibbert – Following the draft, it was clear that the Lakers badly needed a starting center, and they would have to hope to find one on the free agent market. Accordingly, fans fell into a panic shortly after the free agency bell sounded, watching in horror as the purple and gold missed on one big man after another.
They focused on pitching long shots like LaMarcus Aldridge, DeAndre Jordan, and even Greg Monroe, seemingly wasting their time while more attainable mid-tier players were being wined and dined by the rest of the league. The good vibes of the D’Angelo Russell selection felt like a lifetime ago while every Woj-confirmed free agent signing appeared to march the Lakers closer to the precipice. Even Ed Davis was snatched away while the top-tier players kept the Lakers in a holding pattern.
It was excruciating to watch unfold, particularly since the same scenario had played out during the previous two summers.
In the end though, we needn’t have worried so much, Mitch had things under control. The Lakers front office had been working on contingency plans, and knew that they would likely be able to acquire two-time All Star Roy Hibbert from the Indiana Pacers if all else failed. When it was clear they wouldn’t be landing the league’s elite, they pulled the trigger, bringing the master of verticality to Los Angeles.
The cost? A piddly 2019 second round pick and the cap space required to absorb the nearly $16 million due to Hibbert next season.
Lakers Nation breathed a sigh of relief. Hibbert may not have have been the high-profile free agent that the Lakers were looking for, but he provides the rim protection the team sorely needs and brings an All-Star pedigree. Even in a down year last season, he was in the top-five in opponents field goal percentage at the rim and given the Lakers lack of perimeter defenders, Roy is going to have a very busy 2015-2016 season.
Of course, it’s not all jiggling jello. It takes two to trade, and Larry Bird of all people isn’t going to willingly allow the Lakers to fleece him in a deal. In spite of his past accomplishments, Pacer fans couldn’t wait to banish Hibbert from Pawnee. His offensive game is terribly inefficient, and his lumbering 7’2″ body often struggles to keep up in faster-paced contests. Indiana is so convinced that the league is leaving big Roy behind that they let a guy who is only a season and a half removed from being an All-Star go for nearly no compensation.
To truly put things in perspective, Jordan Hill’s PER (an admittedly imperfect stat) of 16.2 last year beat Hibbert’s 15.4. Hill currently finds himself employed by the Pacers at just 1/4 of Hibbert’s price.
That said, Hibbert’s ceiling is still high, and his fit on the team is about as perfect as it gets. He will have plenty of scoring around him to minimize his offensive struggles, while Roy’s stellar rim protection will help mask the failures of L.A.’s perimeter defenders. With a fresh start and in a contract year, the Lakers are sure to get the best that Roy Hibbert has to offer.
Grade: A-
CONTINUE SLIDESHOW: Grading Lakers’ 2015 off-season
Given the circumstances, the Lakers had a relatively successful offseason. While they once again failed to lure any star free agents to Southern California, Kupchak and company were able to quickly pivot and bring in players who should help the team get back to respectability.
They also maintained a good deal of their future flexibility, with both Hibbert and Bryant on large expiring contracts and a cap explosion coming. The Lakers will have money to burn next summer, but unfortunately so will most of the league. Kupchak will have his work cut out for him but he has given himself plenty of room to maneuver.
Depending on how things break, this team has the potential to sneak into the eighth playoff spot in the West, but also the downside to end up at the bottom of the standings. However, the real factor that’s going to determine the Lakers success will be the progress made by the young players and the ability of the veterans to lift the team to respectability during what may (or may not) be Kobe Bryant’s swan song.
Rebuilding a team isn’t easy, but Lakers fans should take time to enjoy the process. It’s not going to happen overnight, and there will be more bumps along the way, but the team finally has young talent to really get excited about.
Overall Grade: B
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