With the 2015-16 Los Angeles Lakers season officially underway tomorrow, fans are cautiously optimistic about the new batch of players donning the purple and gold, and with good reason. After last season’s disastrous run, which presented an injury-ridden squad limping along to the worst record in franchise history, the 2015-2016 incarnation of Lakers Basketball promises to look considerably different.
Roughly half of the roster is gone, replaced mostly by younger counterparts or more accomplished veterans. Ed Davis’ departure for Portland stung, particularly with the reasonable contract that he signed ($20 million over three years), but otherwise most of the subtracted players didn’t have the appearance of being long-term fits (Jeremy Lin fans might feel otherwise, but they are a… passionate… group of people).
While there are a number of question marks on the new-look Lakers, there is also hope that better days lie ahead. Let’s take a look at the roster that hopes to transition the franchise to a new era of success.
BEGIN SLIDESHOW: Lakers 2015-2016 Season Preview
The New Breed
Coach Byron Scott opted to essentially use the 2014-15 season as a talent search, plugging in D-League call-ups like Vander Blue and Dwight Buycks to fill in for the growing list of Lakers spending their season in a suit. He also took liberties with the rotation, frequently changing lineups and roles to see what would stick. The strategy wasn’t very kind to the team’s record, but Scott was able to identify a few potential keepers like Jabari Brown and Tarik Black, both of whom hope to be key pieces of the revamped Lakers.
Most importantly, injuries to impact players like Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, and Nick Young forced Scott’s hand in freeing rookie Jordan Clarkson, and the results were spectacular. Scott had limited Clarkson’s play early on in the season, allowing the 46th overall pick time to slow down and learn the NBA game. Clarkson was finally unleashed in a January tilt against his hometown San Antonio Spurs, and his meteoric rise gave Lakers fans reason to tune in to the the merciful end of an otherwise dreadful season.
This coming season, Clarkson will look to solidify himself as a force in the league. Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak has publicly pondered whether Clarkson was simply putting up numbers on a bad team, and all indications are that he will have every opportunity to prove Kupchak wrong. Thanks to his status as a second-round pick, Clarkson will be a restricted free agent next summer and with that being the case, he will have millions of reasons to put together a special season.
With sneaky athletcism, versatility to play either guard position, and a solid mid-range game, Clarkson appears destined to become a Monta Ellis-style scorer, and if he can hit that level then the Lakers will have found a true gem in the second round.
Of course, the Lakers youth movement doesn’t end with the slithery Clarkson. The team’s futility last season had the silver lining of netting the second overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, which the team used to select Ohio State guard D’Angelo Russell. While some were shocked that the Lakers didn’t select sure-fire big man Jahlil Okafor, it’s Russell who appears to have the highest ceiling and greatest probability of becoming a superstar. With James Harden and Stephen Curry dueling over last season’s MVP award, it’s tough not to see the potential for Russell to become something of a hybrid of both.
Russell’s passes are sure to elicit oohs and ahs from the Staples Center crowd, and the hope is that his ability to get easy baskets for teammates will help draw free agents back to Tinsel Town.
While Clarkson and Russell will be driving and dishing on the perimeter, Julius Randle will make a long-awaited return from the broken leg that he suffered last season. His unique combination of size, strength, and quickness along with impressive ball handling skills makes him an ideal example of the modern “playmaking four”.
Randle spent much of the summer working out with legendary defender Metta World Peace, who has made his comeback with the team that he won a championship with in 2010. World Peace has the strength to hold his ground against Randle and can force him to add new tricks to his arsenal, which will serve to speed up his development. The physicality of their contests has become “almost comical” according to Kupchak, which is music to the ears of Lakers fans hoping that Randle can ultimately become the mixture of brute force and skill that the team has lacked for so long.
Randle was arguably the Lakers best player during the preseason, and there is a lot to like about his physical and versatile game. Kobe Bryant famously called him “Lamar Odom in Zach Randolph’s body,” and plays like this make it an apt comparison.
Ok Julius, we see you https://t.co/rFDUt9TxYp
— Trevor Lane (@Trevor_Lane) October 9, 2015
Clarkson, Russell, and Randle certainly hold the keys to the future, but the Lakers haven’t stopped the youth movement there. Young role players Anthony Brown and Larry Nance Jr. (who killed Festus Ezeli in preseason) have been brought on board to make sure that the team has plenty of complimentary young talent ready to grow alongside the young “big three.” When added to holdovers Tarik Black and Ryan Kelly, the Lakers have a platoon of future supporting players for Byron Scott to develop. The youth movement is definitely in full swing in Hollywood.
CONTINUE: Lakers 2015-2016 Season Preview
Veteran Additions
Having youth is a great thing, but Mitch Kupchak and the Lakers brass recognized that merely acquiring young players isn’t enough to truly rebuild a team. They need examples to follow, mentors who have been in the NBA trenches and know what it takes in order to make it as a pro (which helps explain the re-emergence of MWP).
Enter Lou Williams, Roy Hibbert, Brandon Bass, and Marcelo Huertas. Between them they have 38 years of pro experience, but they are also still young enough to make serious contributions on the court.
Williams, the NBA’s reigning Sixth Man of the Year, was poached from Toronto on a three-year, $21 million deal, which means he essentially received the money that would have been used to retain Ed Davis. Williams’ deal is a real bargain considering his experience and ability to provide flexibility by playing either guard position, and he appears to be well-suited to educate the young guards about the ins and outs of efficient perimeter scoring.
Likewise, Marcelo Huertas comes to Los Angeles with a sparkling resume, albeit in international play. At 32 years old, he isn’t the typical NBA rookie, and will be called upon to run the Lakers second unit and instruct D’Angelo Russell on the finer points of quarterbacking a team. Huertas dazzled in preseason, showing off passing skills that are reminiscent of Steve Nash. While Huertas isn’t the shooter that Nash was, his playmaking skills do look to be a fantastic addition to the second unit, where he has shooters like Kelly, Nick Young, and Williams to spread the floor for him.
With the guards in good hands, the Lakers turned their attention to the post, where a hard-working veteran was needed to replace the departing Carlos Boozer. Brandon Bass got the call on a two-year deal, and promises to bring his blue collar approach as well as a dependable mid-range jumper to the team. Bass, like World Peace, also projects to be an excellent mentor for Randle (as well as Kelly and Nance), and can soak up starters minutes in a pinch should the youngsters struggle.
Defensively, the Lakers ranked 29th in the league last season, and while there were holes everywhere rim protection stood out as a critical area in need of improvement. With that in mind, the Lakers were able to secure a trade with the Indiana Pacers that landed stingy center Roy Hibbert, who is only a season removed from being an All-Star. After struggling last season with the Pacers, both Hibbert and the Lakers are hoping that a change of scenery can snap him out of the funk that led to his departure from Pawnee.
While his plodding pace was vilified in Indy, Hibbert is still one of the top-five rim protectors in the league and at 28, he is also young enough to potentially become part of the Lakers core of the future. His laser-focus on defense and rebounding will set the tone for reserves Tarik Black and Robert Sacre, who will be battling it out back up center minutes.
It has to be noted that the Lakers did strike out on landing a major free agent like LaMarcus Aldridge, DeAndre Jordan, or Greg Monroe, but Mitch Kupchak did a heck of a job of pivoting swiftly once the aces were off the board. It may not have been the home run that the Lakers were hoping for heading into the offseason, but they have set themselves up nicely with a core of veterans who will not only help them win games now, but can also lead the way for the next generation.
CONTINUE: Lakers 2015-2016 Season Preview
Searching For Swag
Few were as excited for the conclusion of the 2014-2015 season as Nick Young, who battled injuries all year and could never seem to find the “Swaggy P” persona that made him a fan favorite during the 2013-2014 season. Coming on the heels of signing a four-year deal, Young’s disastrous 14-15 season drew the ire of Lakers fans and Coach Scott. He was inconsistent offensively and struggled defensively and thanks to his new deal, any trade value Young had vanished.
Now, with his back against the wall, Young will have to appease Scott and find his shot again or he risks finding himself glued to the bench. For a Lakers team woefully thin on the wings, this would be a blow, but they have set themselves up nicely in terms of bench scoring with Lou Williams just in case Young isn’t able to put it all together. Defensively-inclined rookie Anthony Brown may also be an option should Young falter.
Optimistically though, a reserve unit featuring both Young and Williams (along with pass-first guard Huertas) has the potential to be a ton of fun and score points in bunches, so let’s hope that Young locates his Swag once more.
CONTINUE: Lakers 2015-2016 Season Preview
Byron Scott and The Modern NBA
Lakers head coach Byron Scott had a rocky first season at the helm, with his antiquated comments on three pointers and analytics, Riley-esque training camp, and poor management of Kobe’s minutes giving the impression that he is stuck in the past. The 2015-2016 season will give Scott the opportunity to prove that he can and will adapt to the new realities of the modern NBA.
Fortunately, we saw signs during preseason that he is willing to do just that. The franchise has revamped their analytics department, and become increasingly transparent in order to mitigate the fears of a skeptical fan base. Scott has gotten on board with his push, and promised that analytics will be used more this season.
He has also come around a bit in regards to shooting threes, and even trotted out a small-ball lineups during preseason that featured the 6’8″ Brandon Bass at center. Byron also committed to using floor-spacing Ryan Kelly at power forward this year after a disastrous attempt to make him a small forward last season.
While no one expects Scott to morph into a completely modern coach over night, his efforts to keep one foot in the past and the other in the present will be something to keep an eye on this season.
CONTINUE: Five Reasons Why Lakers Fans Should Feel Good About 2015-2016
Kobe’s Last Ride?
Of course, no Lakers season preview would be complete without mentioning Kobe Bean Bryant. He is on the verge of setting an NBA record for most seasons played with one team, and it has long been assumed that this one will be his last. He has spent the last 20 years mesmerizing Lakers fans, to the point where many fans don’t know a world in which Bryant wasn’t wearing the Golden Armor.
There have been some rumblings that Kobe may not retire after all, including a well-placed (as always) Phil Jackson comment that hinted Bryant may continue playing with a different team. Bryant was quick to shut down that notion, but the feeling that Bryant’s future is far from decided has never been stronger.
Should the Lakers make a splash next summer with the mountain of cap space at their disposal, it’s entirely possible that Bryant will decide to fight Father Time for a bit longer, hoping to be part of one more playoff push.
After sustaining a season-ending injury for the past three years, much of Bryant’s decision will likely come down to how well his body handles the rigors of the NBA schedule. He will have a strict minutes limitation, and will likely sit out games here and there in order to allow more time to recover, but still only so much can be done to preserve a 37 year old with the mileage that Kobe has on his odometer.
The “will he or won’t he?” dynamic promises to be a consistent storyline for the Lakers all season, and no one –not even Bryant — will know just what the final verdict will be.
The Lakers have many goals this season, including improving their record, developing the young players, integrating veterans, and continuing to adapt to the modern NBA. Equally important, though, is making sure that Kobe Bryant is able to suit up and take the floor for the final game of the season, just in case it’s his last.
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