The Los Angeles Lakers are currently in the rebuilding process with the team trying to put together a talented young squad to lead the franchise into a promising future.
The Lakers brass has made some progress in their rebuilding efforts with the additions of D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle, but the consensus continues to be that this team is still a few years away from being a force to be reckoned with.
After practice on Wednesday, veteran forward Metta World Peace spoke to the media and claimed the team is confident a playoff spot will be clinched this season, via Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters:
Metta World Peace says this Lakers team strongly believes they can make the playoffs this year.
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) October 21, 2015
With the Western Conference expected to be as competitive as ever this season, the rebuilding Lakers will have an extremely tough challenge ahead to clinch one of the eight playoff spots in the conference.
At this point, the consensus around the league appears to be the Lakers will be headed for another disappointing season on the outside looking in on the postseason. Although Russell, Clarkson and Randle have already shown promise, there’s no telling whether these three will come together around a 37-year-old Kobe Bryant this season or a few years down the road.
Russell and company may be able to prove their doubters wrong in an extremely competitive conference this season, but it’s a safe bet this team will struggle early on or perhaps throughout the entire 2015-16 NBA campaign.