Topic Of Debate: What re-building strategy is best suited for the Lakers given the current state of the franchise? Should they target young prospects in the draft, take chances on talent, or look to go after the big fish?
Context: Lakers fans are currently in a very unfamiliar situation. While they are accustomed to rooting for a team that is in the thick of the title hunt, that hasn’t been the case this season.
Over the course of the history of the Lakers franchise, there has always been a move that has spearheaded this organization to success. In the ’60s it was the acquisition of Wilt Chamberlain, and in the ’70s they traded for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and drafted Magic Johnson.
That list can go on and on, but the fact still remains that the front office has been known to make the correct moves that will lead to championships.
With that being said, we take a look at this team as it stands now and examine the potential ways the front office can make a big move to get this roster looking like one that can win a title.
Verdict: We took this poll question to Twitter to get the fans take on what their ideal rebuilding plan was.
I presented the poll question:
Lakers fans, What’s your ideal re-building plan? The draft? Spend big in ’14/15? Or take chances on young talent (I.E. Bledsoe) #LNDebate
— Ry (@JustRyCole) February 8, 2014
Here are some responses:
@JustRyCole The draft + signing a free agent in 2014 & 2015.
— Ryan Kelapire (@RyanKelapire) February 8, 2014
@JustRyCole If they sign 2 big FA in ’15 those will be the big fish. L.A., franchise history, and brand is the reel in.
— Ahmed Mohiuddin (@Ahmed_Mohiuddin) February 8, 2014
@JustRyCole Try to draft a young talented prosoect. And try to bring in Love/Bledsoe/Monroe/Stephenson in through FA. & KEEP OUR BENCH.
— D. (@Djayy_Green) February 8, 2014
@JustRyCole Trade Gasol for Thompson. Draft Ennis. Sign Deng in 2014 and Love in 2015. #Championship
— RaiderTruths (@RaiderTruths) February 8, 2014
As for myself and where I stand? I’m not entirely sold on the Lakers landing a big fish in this draft (Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, Julius Randle, Joel Embiid). I think that the Lakers will finish at best in the middle of the lottery, meaning that they should get a good prospect, but not a premiere one.
I believe that the Lakers need to target some young talent in this upcoming off-season and take chances. Eric Bledsoe, Lance Stephenson, and Greg Monroe are all young NBA players that still have untapped potential.
Can they be franchise players? Probably not. But having one of those guys with Kobe Bryant could be a stronger pitch to an upcoming free agent like Kevin Love, versus having just cap space.
Superstar caliber players want to be able to contend as soon as possible, and are just as impatient as fans, so I’m not entirely sold on the concept of a supreme talent coming to the Lakers and waiting out the process.
Because of that, the front office should try to assemble as much talent as they can on this current roster and then move forward from there. Draft well in 2014, take a chance on a young talent 2014, and then go for the big fish in 2015.
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