It would be nice to believe that after years of doom and gloom that the Los Angeles Lakers as they start their 2017-18 season are attempting to quietly gain traction on the rest of the NBA power teams. Sure, the team’s off-season included a variety of noteworthy events including the tampering scandal that cost President of Basketball Operations Earvin “Magic” Johnson $500,000, the rumors of Paul George and LeBron James taking their talents to Hollywood and the seemingly never-ending promotional circus known as the Ball family with the drafting of eldest son Lonzo but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the Lakers are trying to bring unwanted attention to themselves. Well OK it looks like they are but even if they weren’t their status among NBA fans who live to see the team thrive or fail cannot help but be a main attraction even when there’s just even of smoldering of hope for the team.
One thing is for certain when it comes to the outlook of the Los Angeles Lakers this season is that there are a great deal of players with something to prove. At the top of the list is point guard Lonzo Ball who is looking to set out to prove that he was worthy of being the #2 draft choice overall in this year’s draft and of all the expectations that have been put upon him by fans and media alike as a potential Rookie of the Year favorite due to his unselfish play and extraordinary court vision. Forward and fellow rookie Kyle Kuzma also has been playing this summer like he has a chip on his shoulder as it clearly motivates him being the 27th pick and letting it be known he did not appreciate so many other players being selected ahead of him. Kuzma’s sterling play in both July at the NBA Summer League and in the preseason has many wondering if the rookie who will have a better season might just be him instead.
Will Brandon Ingram’s development lead him to be a NBA superstar or first round bust? ( Harry How/Getty Images)
Then there are those players who have been hold overs on the team and suffered through what many are calling the worst period in history for this storied franchise. Forward Julius Randle has show spots of brilliance over his short NBA career but those brief glimpses have not been enough to earn an extension from the Lakers. Look for his motivation to be strong as he tries to remind the league that he will be a free agent next summer looking for that next big payday and if his season goes well could also be an intriguing bargaining chip for the Lakers to utilize before the trade deadline as well. Earlier this year, Magic emphasized about forward Brandon Ingram’s progression being a key to the team’s future success and being the only player the team that would not be available for trade. Come five months later Ingram needs to set out to prove this justification by the team and become the player everyone hopes he can be which he recently told ESPN the assertion that he is “going to be a great player in this league,”. With forward Larry Nance Jr., guard Jordan Clarkson and center Ivica Zubac, they need to prove they can become reliable role players who can consistently perform on both ends of the floor and not become an afterthought in the team’s future outlook.
If he can stay healthy, center Brook Lopez can help bring a brighter outlook to the Lakers 2017-18 season (AP Photo/L.E. Baskow).
Filling out much of the rest of the roster are veterans with possibly the most to prove this year. While the others mentioned have the advantage of youth and a development priority the team clearly has in mind for them, there are some whose very performance this year could ultimately be a “make it or break it” type scenario for them. Players such as center Brook Lopez who must remain healthy so he can prove he can still be an elite big man with surprising three-point range, shooting guard Kantavious Caldwell-Pope and his needing to shore up his offensive deficiencies in order to become a better all-around player and veterans Cory Brewer and Andrew Bogut who are looking to prove to other NBA teams that they still have something left in the tank. All these players have contracts ending this year so it is paramount that their play be at a level commensurate with what they would be looking for as they join Randle on the free agent market next year.
So what does this mean for Lakers fans? With a projection from Las Vegas casinos at around 32-33 wins, the outlook is for a progression albeit a slow one in what potentially is a stacked deck with quality teams in the Western Conference. But with so much to prove for so many players and even the team itself preparing for a possible blockbuster free agency next summer, there could be a surprise in store for fans of the team if coach Luke Walton has anything to say about it with a season that could be just a tad bit better than projected. With the additions that have be made this summer and the potential of what could come down the road it looks as though for the Los Angeles Lakers that a promising future as a perennial playoff power is within sight…even if they’re not quite there just yet.
(References: ESPN, LA Times, USA Today, Westgate Sports Book)
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