A Star-Studded Supporting Cast Could Ramp Up Lakers’ Rebuild
Lamar Odom is the latest former Laker to express interest in helping basketball’s most storied franchise get back to the top.
After undergoing a major facelift during the middle of last season, the Los Angeles Lakers’ front office has their work cut out for them this summer. They got off to a solid start by shipping Lou Williams to a “title contender” in exchange for a first-rounder and shutting down veterans Luol Deng and Timofey Mozgov for the rest of the season to evaluate the young talent on the roster. The Lakers also managed to escape the NBA draft lottery alive, keeping their own pick this year and retaining rights to their pick in 2019.
However, in order to sustain the success they’ve enjoyed, the new front office is going to have utilize everyone within the Lakers’ organization. Unfortunately, over the past several months, the Lakers have lost a few of their best, including strength and conditioning coach Tim DiFrancesco, assistant strength coach Sean Light, basketball operation coordinator Tania Jolly, director of player development Rondre Jackson and Glen Carraro, who resigned after 17 years with the organization.
Despite a few high-profile departures, Johnson and Pelinka will still be surrounded by a few talented, young basketball minds, namely director of player personnel and assistant general manager, Ryan West. West, alongside director of scouting Jesse Buss, has been responsible for late-draft steals like Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr. and most recently Ivica Zubac. According to The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski, West will be a key cog in the Lakers’ machine going forward.
Lakers assistant general manager Ryan West has a strong relationship and history with Pelinka, and would likely be considered a significant part of a new front-office regime, league sources said.
Ryan, the son of NBA legend Jerry West, certainly fills a need for the Lakers behind the scenes, however, it’s on the court the Lakers need the most help and help might be on the way sooner than later.
Ever since Magic Johnson took the helm in Los Angeles, a number of former Lakers have reportedly expressed interest in returning to the organization in some capacity to help Luke Walton build his young team from the ground up, including Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lamar Odom.
Following a battle with drug addiction that nearly cost him his life, Odom seems eager to return the court with the team he had the most success with during his career in a different role. If his health permits, he would be a nice addition the Lakers’ coaching staff.
Back in his heyday, Odom was one of the most polarizing figures in basketball. His combination of size (6-foot-10 with a 7-foot-4 wingspan), speed, playmaking and shot-making made him a nearly impossible cover. With a few young forwards on the team like Julius Randle, who is a southpaw just like Odom, and Larry Nance Jr., Odom could help mold a new generation of dominant bigs in Los Angeles.
Speaking of dominant bigs, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has also inquired about “a possible role with the organization,” according to the OC Register’s Mark Medina. Kareem shared his thoughts with Medina on the composition of the Lakers’ roster, singling out Ivica Zubac after the 20-year-old center swore to bring back the skyhook last season.
“He’s equipped to use it well,” Abdul-Jabbar said of Zubac. “He has the length to begin with. If he can develop his shooting touch and agility, he’ll use it well.”
At 70 years old, Kareem won’t be able to be as hands on as say Odom or current coaches Brian Shaw and Mark Madsen, however, his knowledge of the game and reputation as one of the greatest centers of all time certainly wouldn’t hurt the team.
The Lakers don’t currently have a star on the roster. D’Angelo Russell and Brandon Ingram have both shown promise, but they have also shown they are a few years away from being in the “All-Star” conversation. Without star power on the court, the front office should look elsewhere to elevate the team with star players, starting with the coaching staff.
