Predicting Who Stays and Goes Next Season from Current Los Angeles Lakers Roster: All bets are off when it comes to the Los Angeles Lakers and their precarious, unpredictable future. At this point in a miserable season that will likely surpass last year’s 27-55 record of futility, the Lakers roster is likely to turn over dramatically heading into next fall. No one is safe at this point, and that includes the injured Kobe Bryant, who appears to be done for the season after suffering a torn rotator cuff last Wednesday against the New Orleans Pelicans. Whether or not Bryant returns for the final year of his contract remains to be seen, though you’d have to assume he wouldn’t want his last game to have been one in which he was injured and shooting with his left hand. ESPN NBA writer Brian Windhorst was emphatic this week in telling anchor Linda Cohn and a national audience that the Lakers need to think about their future and look to unload assets now that Bryant is out and the season has unraveled. The Lakers needs are many. They need to get younger and more athletic. They need depth at every position, especially point guard, small forward and perimeter shooter. Sounds a lot like last year. The best outcome for the Lakers heading into the offseason would be for them to keep their top draft pick acquired in the Steve Nash deal with the Phoenix Suns in 2012. That means finishing among the bottom five, a much more likely outcome now that Bryant appears to be sidelined for the remainder of the year. Only the Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves have worse records than the Lakers mark of 12-32. And it doesnt get any easier, as L.A.s next three games are against the Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls. As Windhorst and Magic Johnson have both said, the Lakers really would be better to just lose games from here on in so that they have an opportunity to get a high draft pick in the lottery. If the Lakers finish sixth or higher, they lose that first-round pick to the Suns. Given their present circumstances, it stands to reason the Lakers are looking at every and all possible scenarios with regards to the roster. That could mean trading dependable scorers like Jordan Hill, Jeremy Lin or even Nick Young, who just last summer signed a four-year, $21.5 million extension to stay in Los Angeles. Chances are that Young remains with the team due to his breakout season last year that turned him into one of the leagues best bench players. The Lakers need players who can score, and Young is that guy, especially with Bryant out of the lineup. With the stark realization that this years team is going nowhere, the Lakers should be looking exclusively to the future. Coach Byron Scotts decision to play rookie guard Jordan Clarkson in favor of Jeremy Lin on Friday against the San Antonio Spurs may be an early indication of that new direction. In his first NBA start, Clarkson played 29 minutes, scored 11 points and added four assists. Regular starters Wesley Johnson and Ed Davis also sat to start the Spurs game in favor of Ryan Kelly and Robert Sacre. L.A. lost 99-85 to the world champions. The Lakers should take the second half of the season to give younger players a more thorough look. Among those is recently acquired power forward Tarik Black, who was playing exceptionally well before suffering an ankle sprain last week. Julius Randle, Clarkson, Black, Davis and Ryan Kelly represent youth and potential and should remain with the team. Guard Wayne Ellington, a 41 percent shooter from long distance, may also stick with the Lakers. Among the players who could disappear through trade or otherwise between now and the start of training camp: Jordan Hill, Carlos Boozer, Robert Sacre, Ronnie Price, Jeremy Lin, Wesley Johnson and, of course, Steve Nash, who is essentially retired and physically unable to play. One would assume the Lakers are working the phones to find a suitable landing spot for Hill, who is having his best season but is due $9 million next season if the team was to pick up his option. Thats a lot of money for a team seeking one or two high-priced free agents in the offseason. Hill may fetch a late first-round pick or two second-rounders from a contender looking to beef up its front line. He has started all 44 games for the Lakers, averaging career highs in minutes (28), points (12.4) and rebounds (8). Boozer is playing on a one-year contract and will be close to 34 when the next season starts. His numbers (12 PPG, 6.9 RPG in 25 minutes) are decent, though nowhere near his peak years in the league. Boozer may seek a better deal elsewhere, though he could offer veteran leadership if he wants to sign for a year at a much lower salary than the $16.8 million deal he had with the Chicago Bulls before they used the amnesty rule and waived him last summer. The Lakers are only on the hook for $3.25 million of that contract. Chances are that Boozer leaves the Lakers after this season. Johnson would seem to be on the bubble and may or may not stay. He remains a favorite of Coach Scott’s and at times has played closer to his potential. Johnson is another player who, at 27, is still in his prime and brings extraordinary athleticism to the court. His problem for much of his career has been consistent inconsistency. Johnson has improved his three-point shooting and defends better than during his earlier years, but he remains a big question mark. That question is whether or not Johnson has the proverbial fire in the belly to play and defend well for an entire season. Rookie forward Randle is a certainty to be back with the Lakers next season. The team invested $2.9 million in its first-round pick but lost him for the year when he broke his leg in the team’s season opener against the Houston Rockets. The Lakers have a team option of $3 million for next season on Randle and are certain to exercise it. He is considered an integral piece of the Lakers future and is expected to make a full recovery from his injury. Per the Los Angeles Times, Randle sounded optimistic last month and was off crutches while attending a team practice: You miss the competitive atmosphere, going to war with your teammate. Its a brotherhood out there, and its tough to just sit back and watch, but Im learning a lot throughout all of this. Randle is looking forward to playing a full season alongside his idol, Bryant. The Black Mamba is almost certain to return, though it remains to be seen how much he can play in what will be his 20th NBA season. Bryant should consider his role in getting free agents to sign with the Lakers this summer. Why not offer to restructure his contract by deferring some of the $25 million he is owed so that management can acquire as much star talent as possible and provide for one last run at another championship? The torn rotator cuff marks the third major injury in the last three years for Bryant. If he opts for surgery, Bryants recovery time could be in the neighborhood of 4-6 months. It presents an uncertain future for the third-leading scorer in NBA history. There will always be a spot on the Lakers roster for No. 24. He could score a lot of off-the-court points by deferring some of that salary and playing the role of goodwill ambassador. The Lakers will turn over a large part of their roster in the coming months, either through trade or by not re-signing those with expiring contracts. Nothing is off the table at this point for a struggling, snake-bit franchise. The Lakers are in desperate need of talent and a future. They wont get it with the roster they have. How they orchestrate and build a new one will determine which road the team takes for the next decade. Read more NBA news on BleacherReport #Basketball #NBA #NBAPacific #LosAngelesLakers #fantasybasketball
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 15:14:35 +0000
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