5 Different Options For The LA Lakers This Offseason
This Los Angeles Lakers franchise is most definitely in turmoil. Stuck in a conundrum between rebuilding, developing, and winning, this organization doesn’t seem to have a clear direction anymore. It’s baffling, how did the Lakers throw together a team with old guys who can’t shoot and expect to win? Well, hindsight is always 20/20.
Let’s not forget, this is a Lakers team that took down the Golden State Warriors 127–101 on Christmas…on the road…without LeBron James! This Lakers team was flying high, they silenced all the critics by starting the season 20–14, capturing the 4th seed in the tough Western Conference.
Since then the Lakers have gone a disappointing 13–27, slipping all the way to 10th place. It’s almost unfathomable, but this is the first time we won’t see LeBron James in the Playoffs since 2005. But for the Lakers, their focus is on the next season. With very little clarity on the future, the Lakers will need to evaluate their options carefully.
Option 1: Trade For Anthony Davis
It may have just been the whole Anthony Davis saga that derailed this Lakers squad. The Lakers reportedly offered (almost) their entire team and 2 first round picks for Anthony Davis and Solomon Hill. It was laughable that the Pelicans wouldn’t accept the offer, it had to have been a joke.
After news broke out of the trade offer, the Lakers’ chemistry quickly dissipated. It was reported that the Pelicans had no intention of trading AD to the Lakers, they were trying to cause a rift in the LA locker room. While it’s unclear how true that actually is, the Pelicans firing of GM Dell Demps seems to only support that claim.
While there’s obviously still bad blood, there’s much reason for the Lakers to still pursue AD. The Lakers would be dealing with a new GM who will be looking to repair the Pelicans’ image. More importantly, Anthony Davis is still a superstar. Pairing him with LeBron will give the Lakers a true superstar duo that will bring a winning culture to this team.
Option 2: Sign Some Big Name FAs
LeBron James signed that massive 4-year/$154 million deal for a reason. He and Magic Johnson made a plan in the long term. It involved getting some big-name players into Los Angeles. After striking out on guys like Paul George and DeMarcus Cousins during the 2018 offseason, fans needed to be patient for their team to land a big name star.
The 2019 FA class has no shortage of talent. The prospects of having guys like Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, and Jimmy Butler paired up with LeBron James is enticing for Lakers fans. Of course, a ton of these guys still have player options on their deal. They could very well still opt to re-sign with their respective teams.
Still, the Lakers hold at almost $49 million under the salary cap. They have the space to sign one max contract free agent and boost their team with several other solid additions in free agency. We’re in an era of superteams, the Lakers can keep pace by creating their own.
Option 3: Fire Luke Walton
Personally, I am a big fan of Luke Walton. Walton is a great Xs and Os guy. After coaching under Steve Kerr in Golden State, Walton implemented a ton of the same principles with this Lakers team. The off-ball movement and pace replicate what Kerr does on offense. Then on the other side of the ball, Walton’s team defensive system is a mirror image of what the Warriors do.
To begin the season, the Lakers really turned the corner defensively. This team really bought into Walton’s system and evolved into a top 5 defense. Well, before the injuries hit. When crucial pieces like Lonzo Ball, Rajon Rondo, Brandon Ingram, LeBron James, and others went down, it became tough to maintain that same high level of play.
We have to reiterate, this was a team that got to 4th in the West and was only getting better. Still, no matter how you justify it, the blame will always come down on a coach. For all the good things he’s done, Walton is “too nice” of a guy. He hasn’t been able to contain the firestorm in the locker room. If the Lakers determine Luke Walton does not give them the best chance to win, they could fire him and head in another direction.
Option 4: Fire Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson has a plan…apparently. The Lakers’ President of Basketball Operations signed LeBron to a 4 year deal with a vision. It made sense. The Lakers wanted to replicate that Rockets team that almost took down the Warriors. No, it wasn’t the 3 point shooting, it was the hard-nosed physical defenders that really threw the Warriors off their game.
And for a minute it worked. Mixing in vets like Lance Stephenson, JaVale McGee, and Rajon Rondo with their young core of Ball/Hart/Ingram/Kuzma really allowed this team to flourish. They were talented, deep, but most importantly they were tough.
9 months later, Magic’s plan has lost its luster. Of course, injuries have played a part, but the jury is still out on Magic. We have no idea what Magic is thinking, only the Lakers organization really does. If they determine Magic has lost grasp on his plan, they could fire him and allow another GM to manage this team in a more “traditional” way.
Option 5: Trade Away LeBron James
Blasphemy! It’s incalculable. It’s..it’s incomprehensible. I know. The thought of trading away the best player in the world is head scratching, but NBA teams employ players, players don’t employ teams, even if it seems like that with LeBron James.
The NBA is and always will be a business. While talent obviously doesn’t grow on trees, trading away someone of LeBron’s caliber will give the Lakers a hefty package of promising players and/or draft picks. It would be a tough pill to swallow for Lakers’ fans, but it isn’t out of the question.
Before LeBron came to LA, the future was already bright with so many promising young studs. Now you add in the pieces from a potential trade and you have the chance to build a real dynasty. If the Lakers believe they will not be able to put together a team that can win a championship, trading away LeBron would make a lot of sense.
Final Thoughts
The Lakers have a ton of ways to go this Summer. They could opt for any combination of the five options we’ve laid out. Magic Johnson has done a great job giving this Lakers organization a ton of flexibility as they go into 2019. With players like KCP, Stephenson, Rondo, and McGee all signing 1-year deals in 2018, the Lakers have a ton of versatility.
Will the Lakers rebuild or will they go all in? Only time will tell for Hollywood’s favorite franchise. LeBron and the Lakers had their moments in 2019, but the season has been a disappointment, to say the least. Well, sometimes you have to fall before you fly.
