Former Los Angeles Lakers superstar, current TNT TV analyst, Shaquille recently selected into the Hall of Fame
O’Neal commented on the Lakers without Kobe: “Of course they will be exciting, but I don’t think they will be a championship contender. They have to face the Golden State Warriors in the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder,
And the Cleveland Cavaliers in the East. They have a long way to go to be a championship contender.”
The Lakers have a lot of good young core.
D’Angelo Russell is expected to improve in the new season, and the data may improve on the basis of 13.2 points, 3.3 assists, 35.1% three-point shooting percentage and 13.2 efficiency value in his rookie season.
He showed improvement over the course of last season, rising to an 18.8 PER in February.
Russell played summer league in July, mostly to develop chemistry with the Lakers’ new draft pick, Brandon Ingram.
The lanky forward showed good skill: handling the ball, shooting in interference, moving, which is why the Lakers took him.
He still needs to hone those skills and get stronger.
And Jordan Clarkson, the combo guard who currently plays shooting guard, is improving his skills to make himself better suited to the role. For example, he needs a more consistent jump shot.
He could add an option for the Lakers to start the offense with the ball.
There are also Larry Nance Jr., and Julius Randle, two potential forwards, especially Randle, if he improves his shooting and off-ball movement, he will become a high-quality power forward in the league.
Connecting these young potential players is the same young coach Luke Walton. The young players have a good relationship with him and are willing to play small ball with him.
The future of the Lakers is full of hope.
Of course, it will take a few more years to develop these young players into cornerstones for teams making the playoffs or attracting big-name free agents, but that’s something to look forward to for the foreseeable future.
In the new season, a more rational goal for the Lakers is to win more than 30 games, jumping out of the shadow of the lowest 17 wins in team history last season.
After two seasons, they may get a low-ranking playoff spot.
Just like their old rival Boston Celtics, after spending a few years building their young core and hiring a good coach, they will naturally have big-name free agents like Al Horford to vote.
There is no doubt that the Lakers should be patient and allow their players to develop.
The question is, will Lakers owner Jim Buss and general manager Mitch Kupchak have the patience to let the wine ferment?
Bass, sent by his father to run the team, said in 2014 that if he didn’t get the Lakers back into championship contention in three or four seasons, he would retire.
“Returning to the championship” means reaching at least the second round of the playoffs. Although the exact deadline that Buss set for himself is not clear, there have been reports that his siblings are planning for him.
Lost confidence in this team’s ability to push for change sooner rather than later.
The most frightening scenario is that pressure from the family may make Bass decide to improve the record in the short term at the expense of long-term development strategy, and he is not the first owner to do so.
Buss seems to think that rebuilding the Lakers should be easier than it is, with big names flocking to the team because of the franchise’s illustrious history and the city’s sprawling size, however, that’s not how the modern NBA works.
The reality is clear: This summer, the Lakers didn’t even get a chance to meet with Durant.
The prevalence of social media and the current collective bargaining agreement make big market teams less attractive. Players don’t care much about the market, they care about money and winning.
The current Lakers are not in the eyes of free agents.
Many pressures make the Lakers likely to make a decision to improve their record as soon as possible.
The pressure from the Bass family is one; they have to fill the stadium and keep their sponsors; and broadcast ratings have been declining in recent years.
The most important thing is that the historical glory of the Lakers has spoiled the Los Angeles fans. They are not so patient to accompany the team to rebuild.
Might all these pressures lead to short-sighted decision-making?
Possible, but unlikely.
Both Buss and Kupchaks are firmly tied to the Lakers. Even if Buss relinquishes his power, he is still the majority shareholder of the Lakers.
As smart as they are, they will not fail to see the potential of these young people in the formation. They also know that the improvement of strength is a gradual process.
Unless there is a pie-in-the-sky trading opportunity, they will not go to the idea of playing young players.
The Lakers are in the midst of a long quest to get back to the top of the league. It may take years, and fans and front office will have to be patient.
The Lakers can’t let the pressure and pride make them make short-sighted decisions, such as trading young players in exchange for a few players who are in their prime, in order to improve their record in the short term.
Because, this will keep the Lakers mediocre and difficult to turn around.
Shaquille O’Neal, former Los Angeles Lakers superstar, current TNT TV analyst, and newly inducted Hall of Famer, commented on the Lakers without Kobe: “Of course they will be exciting, but I don’t think they will be a championship.