The Lakers with a Shocker on Draft Day

The 2015 NBA Draft is always a very popular event for sports fans. Teams have started building through the draft more and more and now there is proof that tactic works. The Golden State Warriors built through the draft and many of those drafted players played a very important role in their accomplishment of an NBA Championship. Stephen Curry (Picked 9^th in 2009), Klay Thompson (Picked 11^th in 2011), Draymond Green (Picked 35^th in 2012), Harrison Barnes (Picked 7^th in 2012) and Festus Ezeli (Picked 30^th in 2012) were all players the Warriors selected that helped them achieve their ultimate goal of an NBA Championship.

The Los Angeles Lakers are trying to do what the Warriors did and build through the draft. However, the Lakers are trying to take a quicker approach then the six years it took the Golden State Warriors. Having the number two overall selection in the draft is a very valuable piece that could make a big impact on a team.

Coming into the draft the talk was all about the 1-2 punch of the big men. Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor were supposed to go #1 and #2 overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. The Timberwolves surprised no one as they selected Karl-Anthony Towns with the number one overall selection in the draft. The Lakers held the next pick and many thought Okafor would be the selection. The Lakers have built arguably the best franchise in the NBA based off of having superior big men on their rosters. Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neal are all guys that have helped bring multiple championships to the city of Los Angeles.

With that being said, the Lakers selected D’Angelo Russell with the second pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. Now initially shock entered my mind, but once I realized what value really came with this pick I began to become very excited. D’Angelo Russell, a 6’5” 195 pound point guard out of Ohio State is a very special player. He surprised many people with his play in his freshman year and continued to shoot up draft boards throughout the season. He has a smooth lefty-shooting stroke that possesses NBA range to go along with a passing ability that is above average. He sees the floor very well and is very advanced at attacking the rim. He is still 19 years old so there is some concern about his build, but that will come with age and physical development. Some criticize his athletic ability, but he compares similar to James Harden, as he is very good at using the physical traits that he has in order to be a very good basketball player.

Now with the addition of Russell, the Lakers have found their starting point guard for their 2015-2016 roster. The shooting guard position is manhandled by Laker legend, Kobe Bryant. Small forward is an area of concern, but the Lakers will look at options in free agency in order to fill that hole. Julius Randle fills the power forward slot. Randle has been wowing people within the Lakers organization as he has dropped about 20 pounds and has improved his jump shot. Now the center position is where things get interesting. This position was thought to be filled by Jahlil Okafor, but the Lakers had a change of plans on draft night.

Now that the Lakers have passed on Okafor in the draft, it does a lot for the organization as they approach free agency. The 2015 free agent class is filled with very talented big men. A couple of the big men that are available are: Marc Gasol, Lamarcus Aldridge, Kevin Love, and DeAndre Jordan. The Lakers have about 23 million in cap space meaning that they can offer a max contract to one of these big men. Getting one of these big men to sign is going to be the hard part, but the Lakers already have an advantage, as they are a high-class organization that attracts free agents. Let’s not forget about the bright future that they have as well, which is led by D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle.

July 1^st is when free agency begins and it will be quite the roller coaster ride. Lamarcus Aldridge has already expressed interest in signing with Los Angeles, Kevin Love went to college at UCLA and has ties to LA, and Marc Gasol might follow in his brother’s foot steps to try and win a couple of championships with the Lakers. Only time will tell if this dream scenario turns into a reality. June 25^th, 2015 might mark a very big date in Los Angeles Lakers history as D’Angelo Russell looks to become the next Kobe Bryant and the face of the Lakers franchise.

Will the Lakers Luck Turn into Gold?

It usually is not a good thing when teams are excited about the NBA Draft Lottery because they are all of the teams that did not make the playoffs. For the Lakers, this is unfamiliar territory as this is just the fifth time that they have “played” in the lottery since it began in 1985. The Lakers came into the lottery with the fourth worst record leaving them with an 11.9% chance of landing the #1 overall pick. Although the Lakers did not find a gold mine, they still found plenty of gold as they landed with the #2 overall pick, two slots ahead of where they were projected to pick.

Now some might say that gaining two spots in the draft is not a big deal, but it is a huge deal and here is why. Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor headline the 2015 NBA Draft class and scouts have been raving about these two big men. Both of these players are supposed to be a lock to go #1 and #2 in the draft and scouts cannot stop talking about the potential both of these young men have.

For the Lakers, it changes everything. They at first were looking at taking either DeAngelo Russell, a point guard from Ohio State, or Emmanuel Mudiay, a point guard who played in China last year, with the fourth pick in the draft. Having selected another point guard would have created a dilemma at the point guard position with Jordan Clarkson. Now instead of drafting a point guard, the Lakers are almost certain to draft a center, whether that is Okafor or Towns, who will be a great compliment to Julius Randle in the low post.

Although it certainly does help the Lakers out position wise, it also helps them out money wise. The Lakers have a 9 million dollar team option for Jordan Hill meaning they can decide if they want to give him that 9 million contract for the upcoming year or they can cut him lose and not pay him that price tag, which will allow him to reach free agency. With the addition of Okafor or Towns, it is almost certain that the Lakers are now going to decline the 9 million dollar option on Jordan Hill, which frees up 9 million for the Lakers to use on other pieces in free agency.

The Lakers have many intriguing options to look at in free agency in order to build a team that will be competitive for Kobe Bryant’s last year of his career and for years to come. A couple of interesting names to keep an eye out for are Rajon Rondo, Wesley Matthews, DeMarre Carroll, and the most talked about rumor this year, Kevin Love.

My prediction for the offseason is that the Los Angeles Lakers will target Rajon Rondo to give some veteran leadership at the point guard position. Rondo and Kobe are good friends and both have drive and motivation that many others do not have. I predict a three-year contract worth around 30 million for Rondo and his services.

Now Kobe Bryant is obviously locked in to the starting shooting guard position for next year, but it is important to notice Kobe’s history of injuries in these past couple of years. The Lakers are not going to be able to rely on Kobe to play 35 minutes a game so having a valuable backup shooting guard going to be very important. There are a couple of options here. The Lakers could stay put and keep their sixth man, Nick Young, but this is unlikely as there has already been rumors of the Lakers looking at trade options for Young. I predict the Lakers will trade Nick Young along with their 27^th overall pick in the draft in order to move up in the draft. Jordan Clarkson will be the sixth man for the Lakers next year playing both PG and SG.

The small forward position has not always been a point of emphasis for the Lakers. They have won with quality role players like Trevor Ariza and Metta World Peace (also known as the Panda’s Friend) and I expect the Lakers to go in the same route here. DeMarre Carroll has really made a name for himself this year. He has always been a lock down defender, but he immensely improved his shot and his offensive game. The Lakers were rated 29^th out of 30 in defensive efficiency and adding a guy like Carroll would help with that glaring weakness. I predict a four-year contract worth around 36 million.

One of the best pieces that the Lakers have for the future is Julius Randle. Although he is coming off of a rookie season where he only played 14 minutes due to a season ending injury, the Lakers are expecting big things from Julius in his sophomore season. The 6’9” 250 pound power forward has a very advanced offensive game for his age (20) and the Lakers expect Julius to play a pivotal role in their pursuit of an NBA Championship.

An NBA Championship after the season that the Lakers just had? Although not a likely outcome for the 2015-2016 the Lakers might not be that far off. Rounding out the starting five for the Lakers next year will be Jahlil Okafor. The 6’11” 270 pound Center out of Duke has a very advanced offensive game with a plethora of post moves to go along with a pretty good jumper. Free throw shooting and defense are known to be his weaknesses, but Okafor has been working out in Santa Barbara at P3 trying to work on his physical tools in order to further fill out his body and be more of a presence both on the defensive and offensive end. Although the league is starting to turn towards a guard heavy league, Okafor is a guy that the Los Angeles Lakers could and should build around as he has the traits of being a franchise player.

Now the Lakers still have quite the wish list in order to become competitive again, but drafting Okafor is a huge step in the right direction for their franchise. The presence of Kobe Bryant, Julius Randle, and Jahlil Okafor should be enough to attract some free agents to LA as well. Although the Lakers just had one of their worst years in franchise history, things are only looking up for Laker fans. Only time will tell if the Lakers can have a historic turnaround season. It all starts with Okafor, and none of this would have been possible without the Lakers finding gold in the lottery.

The NBA Trade Deadline: What Now?

The NBA Trade Deadline is arguably the most exciting day in an NBA season outside of the playoffs. Expectations, excitement, and hope are words that come to mind when thinking about the trade deadline. The 2015 NBA Trade Deadline was filled with unexpected trades and there were six deals that got completed that have significant value.

Goran Dragic, the ex point guard for the Phoenix Suns, was the most likely to be dealt at the trade deadline. Dragic, who is averaging 16.2 points per game, 4.1 assists per game, and 3.6 rebounds per game, did not like the situation he was in Phoenix with the abundance of point guards that he had to split playing time with. Dragic told the Suns he would not resign with them after the season so the Suns traded Goran Dragic, along with his brother Zoran Dragic, to the Miami Heat as apart of a three-team trade with the New Orleans Pelicans. The Suns received Danny Granger and two future first round draft picks, and the Pelicans received Norris Cole, Justin Hamilton, and Shawne Williams from the Heat. Who won the trade? All three teams did very well given their circumstances. The Miami Heat were sliding down the standings in the Eastern Conference so adding a top 15 point guard to a team that had many issues at the point guard position is a very big addition. Although it looks like Chris Bosh will be out for the season with a blood clot in his lungs, the Miami Heat have significantly upgraded their lineup with the addition of Dragic and immediately become a threat in the Eastern Conference. The Suns biggest acquisition from this trade is the two future first round picks they received which is a significant return for a player that was going to leave their team after the season regardless. Lastly, the Pelicans made the trade in order to receive Norris Cole who will serve as a nice backup to Jrue Holiday.

The Suns did not stop there as they shocked the world with another three-team trade, but this time it involved the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers. The Suns traded Miles Plumlee (to the Bucks), Tyler Ennis (to the Bucks), and the protected 2015 1^st Round Pick from the Lakers (to the 76ers), which the Suns received in the Steve Nash trade. The Bucks traded Brandon Knight and Kendall Marshall to the Suns, and the 76ers traded Michael Carter-Williams to the Milwaukee Bucks. The Suns made this trade to get a replacement for Goran Dragic and they did a great job of this by getting Brandon Knight, a 23 year old guard who is averaging 17.8 points, 5.4 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game. The Suns got younger, and although Brandon Knight is a restricted free agent this summer, the Suns will be able to match any offer that Knight receives in free agency. The Bucks traded away their 23-year-old guard in Brandon Knight to receive another 23-year-old point guard in Michael Carter-Williams. Carter-Williams won the rookie of the year award last year and is averaging 15 points, 7.4 assists, and 6.2 rebounds a game this year. The biggest reason that the Bucks completed this trade is because they get two more years of team control with MCW than they do with Knight, but they also completed this trade because they wanted a true pass-first point guard who can get the ball to their future stars, Jabari Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo. The 76ers continue to stock up on draft picks while giving away all the talent that they have in an attempt to getting a higher draft pick, by losing. Of course they will not say they are “tanking”, but they are tanking by trading away all of the talent that they have in order to lose games and build for the future.

The three team trades did not stop as the Thunder, the Pistons, and the Jazz all agreed to a deal. The Thunder dealt Reggie Jackson (to the Pistons), Kendrick Perkins (to the Jazz), and a future first round pick (to the Jazz). The Pistons traded away DJ Augustin and Kyle Singler to the Thunder, and lastly the Jazz traded Enes Kanter and Steve Novak to the Thunder. The Thunder finally upgraded at the center position and they did really well. Enes Kanter, 22, was losing playing time to Rudy Gobert in Utah and needed a change. The former 3^rd overall pick in the 2011 draft is averaging 13.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game this season. Although he is a restricted free agent this summer, the Thunder should be able to sign him long term after trading away Kendrick Perkins and his nine million price tag. Reggie Jackson was starting to become annoyed with his lack of playing time in Oklahoma City and finally requested a trade. He got his wish and was traded to the Detroit Pistons who had a big need at the point guard position with Brandon Jennings out for the year with a ruptured left Achilles tendon. Although the Pistons record is not good, the addition of Reggie Jackson to go along with how weak the Eastern Conference is could result in a playoff spot. Lastly, the Utah Jazz did this trade because Kanter was unhappy and they found their center of the future in Rudy Gobert. They added a first round pick as they continue their rebuild and saved some money as they are finalized a contract buyout with Kendrick Perkins.

Guess what? The three team trades did not stop there! The Celtics, Suns, and Pistons agreed to a deal. The Celtics received Isaiah Thomas (from the Suns), Jonas Jerebko and Luigi Datome (from the Pistons). The Suns received Marcus Thornton and a 2016 first round pick from the Celtics, and the Pistons acquired Tayshaun Prince from the Celtics. Although this is a smaller deal, the Celtics addition of Isaiah Thomas is going to really help their point guard play and add a scorer to a team that has defensive minded guards in Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley. The Suns continue their rebuild and pick up another first round pick, and lastly the Pistons get to have a reunion with Tayshaun Prince and get their starting small forward.

The first trade of the day was between the Portland Trailblazers and the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets traded Aaron Afflalo along with Alonzo Gee in return for Thomas Robinson, Will Barton, Victor Claver, and a 2016 first round pick. The Nuggets only reason for making this trade was for the future first round pick as they are also in a rebuilding stage. The Trailblazers added Afflalo, who is averaging 14.5 points and 3.4 rebounds a game. He provides incredible value on the defensive end and can also do a lot of damage from behind the arc. He will be the sixth man in Portland and will add depth to a team that is currently 3^rd in the Western Conference.

The last significant trade that occurred during the deadline was between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets traded Kevin Garnett in return for Thaddeus Young. You might be thinking why would the Timberwolves want the 38-year-old Kevin Garnett if they are rebuilding. Kevin Garnett’s value lies in his leadership and mentoring ability rather than the production that he is going to put forth on the court. He will bring the attitude of a championship team and the Timberwolves will benefit extremely from this. The Brooklyn Nets completed this trade because they understood that Kevin Garnett’s production was down and his time playing basketball was coming to an end quickly. So they got Thaddeus Young, who is underperforming this year, but is still averaging 14.1 points, 2.8 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game. He is only 26 and could have a future in Brooklyn. He will slide into the starting power forward position, as the Nets are one game out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The 2015 Trade Deadline was very exciting and every team that got involved did a very good job of assessing their needs and executing on those needs. There are a little under 30 games left to be played, but a lot can change in those 30 games. These trades could have a big affect on what teams make the playoffs or not. Will chemistry be an issue? Time will tell as we wait until the playoffs.

What does the absence of Kobe Bryant mean for #24 and the Lakers?

Lakers fans went into the preseason with high hopes and this hope came from the revival of Kobe Bryant, the selection of Julius Randle in the 2014 Draft, and the additions of Jeremy Lin and Carlos Boozer. Going into the season one might have said that this Laker team could end up with a record close to .500 basketball if everything went as planned. Well everything did not go as planned.

The Lakers started off their season with an embarrassing loss to the Rockets. Although the argument between Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard got a lot of attention during the blowout defeat, the Lakers suffered a bigger loss than just the one game that showed in the standings. They lost their future star Julius Randle, to a broken right tibia. Randle was supposed to get big minutes this year and was already projected to be a threat for the Rookie of the Year award. This injury was devastating for Laker fans and many started to lose hope.

Now, 49 games into the season, the Lakers stand at 13-36 with both Jeremy Lin and Carlos Boozer out of the starting lineup due to lack of production from both. To add onto the Lakers’ troubles, Kobe Bryant just suffered a torn rotator cuff and will be out for the season. Now although Lakers fans are suffering, the combination of these three things could be a blessing in disguise and here is why.

The Lakers have traded their 2015 draft pick to the Phoenix Suns, but the draft pick is top 5 protected. This means that if the Lakers finish in the bottom five of the NBA standings at the end of the year they get to keep that selection and instead give the Suns their 2016 first round pick. Picks are protected all the time in the NBA, but this clause needs to be agreed upon during trade negotiations. One might ask why would it make a difference what year that Lakers give the pick if they have to give the Suns the pick no matter what? Although the Lakers will have to give their 2016 First Round Pick to the Suns if they stay in the bottom five of the standings, it will still allow the Lakers to build a competitive team for next year. Kobe Bryant is not getting any younger and adding talent from the draft will help the Lakers build the best team possible for the 2015-2016 season, which is potentially Kobe Bryant’s last year.

There are five players to keep an eye out for potential Laker draft picks if the Lakers retain their pick. Jahlil Okafor, the 6’11” 270 pound center out of Duke has shown the country why he should be the number one pick in the draft. He brings value on both ends of the court as to someone who you can build around on offense, but he also serves as a very solid rim protector in the paint.

Another option is Emmanuel Mudiay, a 6’5” 196 pound point guard who is playing professionally in China. Mudiay provides great size for his position and has showed scouts his quickness, ball handling, and his ability to get to the rim.

Next up is Karl-Anthony Towns, a 6’11” 250 pound center out of Kentucky. Towns is a much more offensive player than he is defensively with the ability to post up and shoot jumpers.

Stanley Johnson, a 6’7” 237 pound small forward is another option for the Lakers. He brings excellent defense, toughness, and a very high motor to the court and would be a great addition for the Lakers.

The last most realistic option is D’Angelo Russell. Russell, a 6’5” 176 pound point guard out of Ohio States has impressed with his ability to shoot the basketball, attack the rim, and pass the rock. He can do it all, but he has a long ways to go in order to become the future point guard that the Lakers are looking for.

Any five of these selections would be a tremendous addition for the Lakers. Now adding on to this the Lakers also have another first round pick that was traded to them from the Houston Rockets. If the season were to end today that pick would be the 26^th pick in the draft, and although that selection is probably going to be in the 20-30 range, the Lakers are still adding a young player with potential to have an impact in the NBA.

Looking forward to a 2015 lineup of a 37 year old Kobe Bryant, who is coming off a torn rotator cuff, a 20 year old Julius Randle with no NBA experience, coming off a torn tibia, and a couple of rookies with a abundant amount of question marks does not seem like much hope for the future. Many things are definitely going to have to come together for the Lakers in order for them to contend next year and another one of those areas is Free Agency.

There are only four guys that the Lakers have in guaranteed money for next year and although that might look bad, it also means that the Lakers will have a lot of money freed up in which they can spend on free agents. The 2015 Free Agent class does not have a Lebron James or a Kevin Durant, but it has many a couple of very solid players such as: Lamarcus Aldridge, Marc Gasol and Rajon Rondo.

Lamarcus Aldridge, a 6’11” 240 pound power forward, would bring a huge presence to the Lakers. He has averaged 19.2 points and 8.3 rebounds throughout his career and he would immediately become the number one option in Los Angeles. He has played in Portland all of his life, would he be interested in Hollywood?

Marc Gasol, a 7’1” 265 pound center on the Grizzlies, was actually traded from the Lakers to Memphis in a deal that netted the Lakers Pau Gasol. Pau loved his time in Los Angeles and Laker fans are hoping Marc saw that and takes his talents to LA. Marc has averaged 14 points to go along with 8 rebounds throughout his career. Those offensive numbers to go along with his defensive presence in the paint would help the Lakers become a team to watch for in the West immediately.

Rajon Rondo, a 6’1” 186 pound point guard on the Mavericks, provides a desire to win that Kobe has recognized. Kobe has made it public that he is going to recruit Rondo this offseason. Rondo has averaged 10.9 points, 8.4 assists, and 4.7 rebounds a game throughout his career and beyond the stats he would add a leader and a type of resiliency that the Lakers need to build in order to get themselves back to the top.

The Lakers need to be pushing hard for one of these three players as the addition of any one of these three would immediately make the Los Angeles Lakers a threat to make the playoffs.

Now again there is definitely a lot that has to go right if the Lakers want to be contenders again, but it sure is possible. A realistic scenario is the Lakers finish in 3^rd to last and draft Emmanuel Mudiay as their future star, regain a healthy Kobe Bryant and Julius Randle from injuries, and lastly snatch up Marc Gasol in free agency. There are going to be a lot more players that the Lakers are going to need to fill the roster in order for them to be competitive, so keep an eye out for Wesley Matthews as he will provide the three point shooting and defense that the Lakers are going to need.

Although there sure are a lot of pieces to undone puzzle right now, a future lineup of Mudiay, Kobe, Matthews, Randle, and Gasol is not too bad given the situation that the Lakers are currently in. Call me far-fetched, but hope is in the air for Laker fans.

Are the Lakers Better Off Without #24?

There is no doubt that Kobe Bryant still can play the game very well even if he is 36 years old. He is averaging 24.6 points per game, 4.9 assists, and 5.1 rebounds in 35 minutes a night. Those are some incredible numbers given his age and recent injury history. So what is the problem? Well Kobe is shooting 37% from the field and he is averaging 22 shots a game. That sure does not bode well for team basketball.

Over the last three games Kobe has not played due to, as he put it, “old age”. He has been feeling soreness in his Achilles, ankles, and knees. Over those three games the Lakers have gone 1-2, but all three were against very good playoff bound teams. The Lakers only win over that span was against the NBA’s best record team, The Golden State Warriors. The Lakers won pretty handily, as they shot 52% from the field as a team and had seven players score in double figures. Team Basketball are two words you do not hear very often when watching the Lakers, but that is the reason the Lakers won the game as they played as a team both offensively and defensively.

The Lakers next game without Kobe was against the Bulls. Even though the Lakers did not shoot the ball very well, they were still only down by 6 points going into the fourth quarter. They collapsed in the fourth quarter and lost by 20 points, but they still shared the ball and had five players in double figures even with their shooting woes. Their other loss was against the Dallas Mavericks, who look scary good with their new acquisition of Rajon Rondo. The Lakers shot an awful 36% from the field, but still managed to only lose by four points to a team that possesses the ninth best record in the league. Again the Lakers shared the basketball and had six players score in double figures.

Now some might say the Lakers just got hot against a tired Warriors team, but there is a lot more to it. The Lakers showed that they can come together as a unit and have everyone pitch in for a team win, both on the offensive end and defensive end. Although this was just a glimpse of what the Lakers can become, there are some changes that need to take place. The first change that needs to occur is with Kobe Bryant’s minutes. A good example is to look at Tim Duncan and how his production has been consistent through his aging. A big reason for this is the amount of minutes he plays and the way he takes care of his body. Kobe has no problem taking care of his body, but Byron Scott really needs to manage Kobe’s minutes better. Kobe is 14^th in the league in minutes played per game and only one of those players is over the age of 29, Carmelo Anthony, who is 30 years old. Limiting Kobe’s minutes is going to lessen the risk of injury, but it is also going to lead to better team basketball for the Lakers.

If Byron Scott can start limiting Kobe’s minutes to around 30 minutes a game there is going to be a lot of progress for the Los Angeles Lakers Basketball Team. Not only will Kobe be taking less shots, he will not be as tired on the defensive end. The Lakers are dead last in Defensive Efficiency and a lot of that has to do with Kobe Bryant. Plain and simple, you are asking a lot for a 36 year old Kobe Bryant to be able to guard the up and coming elite shooting guards. Kobe hurts the Lakers a ton on defense and limiting Kobe’s minutes by just five minutes per game is going to allow for him to have more energy while he is playing, and also allow for his substitute to play better defense from the shooting guard position.

Kobe Bryant still holds an incredible amount of value to the Lakers, and it is not just off the court with jersey sales. He is still a threat in this league, but he needs to be able to trust his teammates every game. He has shown that he can trust them during some games, but he needs to commit to his teammates, limit his shot selection, and get his teammates involved so that the Los Angeles Lakers can start to get some rhythm and grow as a basketball team.

As a Laker fan, it is hard to say that Kobe is hurting the Lakers chances at winning while he is on the court. Even though the numbers he is averaging at his age are off the charts, he is hurting the team both offensively and defensively. Byron Scott needs to limit Kobe’s minutes and Kobe needs to play more team basketball as his 22 shots per game have only led to 21 losses through 30 games. It is time for a change and hopefully Kobe has realized that while witnessing the last three games. Although his expensive suits do look nice, we would rather see Kobe in purple and gold, playing. Once Kobe begins playing a few less minutes and starts getting his teammates trust on his side, The Los Angeles Lakers are going to look like a different team. Contender? Absolutely not, but positive growth is what Laker fans are looking for in this dark time of Laker history.

Historic Draft Class or Bust?

The 2014 NBA draft class was supposed to be one of the ages. Some said it was supposed to be the best draft class of all time, beating out the 2003 NBA Draft class with high value names such as Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dywane Wade, and Chris Bosh. Incredibly, however, just 15 games into the season there is already talk about how this draft class is a bust. These claims are absolutely ridiculous and here is why.

First, the word “potential” is a very important word for this draft class. By definition, potential is “having or showing the capacity to become or develop into something in the future”. In this case we are talking about these rookies developing into stars. Now this does not happen overnight and we have seen players who have high potential become studs, but we have also seen these players find themselves out of the NBA after a couple of years. Good examples of players becoming stars are guys like Russell Westbrook or Kevin Durant. Examples of players not living up to their potential are Hasheem Thabeet and Kwame Brown. Potential is all about the future and when over half of the first ten picks in the draft are teenagers, potential is what these NBA GM’s are looking at.

The 2014 NBA draft had a lot of hype, but the first five picks are what everyone is making noise about. Andrew Wiggins, 19, picked 1^st overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers, was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Kevin Love. The 6’8” 200 pound Small Forward out of Kansas is thought to be the next Lebron James. He has shown off his athleticism and glimpses of offensive production, but he is still shooting a very low percentage from the field and not rebounding well. He did show the world what he is capable of with a 29 point, 5 rebound, and 4 steal performance against the Sacramento Kings, but he needs to put on some muscle and continue to grow all aspects of his game before he can become a dominant force in this league.

Jabari Parker, 19, picked 2^nd overall by the Milwaukee Bucks, is a 6’8” 240 pound Small Forward out of Duke. Parker is supposed to be the safest pick in the draft and will be able to contribute right away with his polished skills and NBA body. Jabari is currently not putting up numbers that people projected that he would, but he is still averaging an efficient 11.9 points per game along with 6.1 rebounds in 29 minutes of play.

Joel Embiid, 20, was picked 3^rd overall by the Philadelphia 76ers and he is touted to be the next dominant big man in the NBA. The 7’0” 250 pound Center out of Kansas is currently nursing a foot injury, but when healthy he has advanced post moves, can shoot the basketball, and is a dominant presence in the paint on defense. Basketball is fairly new to Embiid as he started playing when he was 15 years old. He has made an immense amount of progress in the last five years and still has an abundance amount of potential still to fulfill.

Aaron Gordon, 19, was selected 4^th overall by the Orlando Magic. The 6’9” 240 pound Small Forward out of Arizona is an athletic specimen, but he is also very raw on the offensive end. His defense is already above average, but he will have to continue to improve his jump shot along with some post moves in order to be a force in the NBA.

Dante Exum, 19, was selected 5^th overall by the Utah Jazz. The 6’6” 190 pound point guard out Australia has shown glimpses of his untapped potential early in the year, but his shooting has been very poor to start the year. He is shooting 37% from the field to go along with 62% from the free throw line. His athleticism and passing ability is what excites the Jazz’s front office, but he needs to work on his jump shot if he wants to reach his full potential and separate himself from other point guards in the league.

Marcus Smart, 20, was selected 6^th overall by the Boston Celtics. The world was shocked when the 6’4” 220 pound point guard out of Oklahoma State did not enter the 2013 NBA Draft after his freshman year. He was a lock to go in the top 3, but instead he decided to play out his sophomore year and it hurt his draft stock. Smart is very explosive and he is very good at attacking the basket, but he needs to work on his shooting. Smart is currently out with an ankle injury, but in his first 5 games he shot 30% from the field and a poor 24% from the three-point line. The Celtics are going to need to see more improvement out of him before they can trade Rondo and give the reigns to Smart.

Julius Randle, 19, was selected 7^th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers. The 6’9” 250 pound power forward out of Kentucky suffered a broken leg during the first game of the season. This was a devastating injury for Laker fans as this was supposed to be a year for a lot of growth on a very poor Laker team. Randle was supposed to make an immediate impact and was already making noise about potentially winning Rookie of the Year honors. Randle has a long ways to go still as he needs to continue to improve his jump shot and his right hand. We will see if he can overcome this injury, but if he can watch out as he has the body, talent, and mindset to dominate in this league.

Nick Stauskas, 21, was selected 8^th overall by the Sacramento Kings. The 6’6” 205 pound shooting guard out of Michigan has not had a good start to the year. Many Kings fans were puzzled by this selection as they just selected shooting guard, Ben McLemore, with their first round pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. Stauskas’ value comes from his ability to score and he has not been doing a great job of that. He is shooting 32% from the field and 24% from the three-point line. Although he has lost minutes early in the year, he still possesses the skills to make a difference in the NBA as a shooter. Now he just needs to mature physically and find his shooting stroke!

Noah Vonleh, 19, was selected 9^th overall by the Charlotte Hornets. The 6’10” 240 pound power forward out of Indiana is a very raw player. Vonleh is a very long and athletic power forward who could be a potential All-Star in the NBA. He had an offseason injury that kept him out of training camp and has only received a total of 25 minutes this season. Vonleh is a beast on the boards and he also has a nice jumper as he shot 16-33 from 3-point range last year at Indiana. He will need to continue to get stronger and work on his post moves in order to be the star that GM’s are projected him to be.

Elfrid Payton, 20, was selected 10^th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers and then traded to the Magic on draft day for Dario Saric and future picks. The 6’4” 185 pound point guard out of Louisiana-Lafayette is a pass-first point guard who showed us a lot in his junior year of college when he averaged 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. Although these numbers haven’t translated too well to the NBA, Payton has still showed us that he can contribute as he is averaging 6.6 points a game to go along with 4.9 assists and 3.4 rebounds. In order for Payton to earn starter minutes and become a solid NBA player, Payton is going to need to improve his jump shot. He is currently shooting 39% from the field and only 49% from the free throw line. He also turns the ball over quite a bit, but once he can develop a jumper and learn to be a little more disciplined, don’t be surprised if Payton is a top point guard in the league one day.

The majority of these rookies are not getting very much playing time. Not single rookie in the top ten is averaging over 30 minutes a game and they are still in the process of learning. Jabari Parker, the number 2 pick in the draft, is averaging 11.9 points along with 6.1 rebounds a game in 29 minutes. Now compare that to Anthony Davis’ rookie season where he put up 13.5 points and 8.2 rebounds a game in 29 minutes. Those numbers are very similar and Anthony Davis is now a top five player in the NBA! Now some might say three rebounds is a big difference but Parker is playing SF compared to Anthony Davis who spends a majority of his time in the paint. It is going to take these players a couple of years to mature physically and get adjusted to NBA basketball.

Why hasn’t there been at least one rookie who has shine? Well, again you are looking at a lot of young bodies and Wiggins and Parker have not been bad to start the year. Andrew Wiggins, who is supposed to be the next Lebron James, is coming into the league at 6’8” 200 pounds. Going up against a 6’8” 250 pound Lebron James is not a fair comparison at this point in his career. So now instead of looking at the first 15 games, show some patience and allow these players to really develop.

Keep in mind that Julius Randle and Joel Embiid, two of the top seven picks in the draft, have season ending injuries. Julius Randle was projected to go in the top three before his freshman year in college, and Embiid was supposed to go 1^st overall before he suffered a foot injury just before the draft. Both of these guys are on rebuilding teams and would have seen a lot of playing time. Either one of these guys could have been the “breakout” rookie to begin the year, especially with Julius Randle having the most NBA ready body out of all of the players selected in the first ten picks of the draft. These players are a big chunk of the 2014 draft class and labeling this draft class as a bust without even seeing these two play is unfair.

The first ten picks of the draft consist of six 19 year olds, three 20 years olds, and one 21 year old. I cannot stress this enough as a majority of these players were picked based off of potential. Two years ago half of these guys were graduating from high school! Yes, a lot of the 2014 draft class doesn’t appear quite ready for “prime time”, but lets give them a chance. Time will tell if these players turn their potential into star talent.

Kobe Bryant: One of the Greats or Just Selfish?

Anyone who follows NBA basketball at all has probably been in discussions on whether or not Kobe Bryant is one of the best players to ever play in the NBA. And you likely are also well acquainted with Kobe’s off the court issues caused by an incident in a Colorado hotel involving a beautiful blonde. Kobe was roasted by the media for that and wound up being hated by many, disliked by still more, and trusted only by his disappointed but devoted fans.

Society tends to be very harsh on athletes that have made mistakes in their personal lives. Tiger Woods is the most recent victim of this and even with his past accomplishments he now has the label of what he did in his personal life rather than his accomplishments on the golf course. I bring all this up because it is a big reason why Kobe Bryant gets a lot of hate. Although he was not convicted of anything, the rumors of his off court issues smeared his reputation and still do today. I point it out only to help us frame our question in a more objective light as we consider his career and his contribution to the game of basketball. Is he one of the games all time greats or just an arrogant egomaniac who shoots too much?

Kobe Bean Bryant, born on August 23^rd, 1978, grew up in Philadelphia, but he spent much of his childhood in Italy after his father moved overseas to play basketball. He learned how to speak both Italian and Spanish in his time overseas and he started playing basketball when he was three years old. Kobe moved back to the United States and built a very impressive resume throughout his high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School. Kobe became the 6^th player in NBA history to skip college and head straight to the NBA after racking up many awards during his senior year of high school including: Naismith High School Player of the Year, Gatorade Men’s National Basketball Player of the Year, a McDonald’s All-American, and a USA Today All-USA First Team player.

It all started for Kobe in 1996 when he got drafted 13^th overall by the Charlotte Hornets and got traded to the Lakers on draft day for Vlade Divac. Kobe is now headed into his 19^th year of NBA basketball with a very impressive resume: 4^th all-time in scoring, 15^th all-time in steals, and top 30^th all-time in assists. To go along with his individual accomplishments Kobe has won 5 NBA Championships and has played his entire career for one organization, the Los Angeles Lakers. Some call him better than Michael Jordan, some have him in their top ten of all-time, and others just hate the guy and think that he is a selfish player.

The 6’6” 210 pound shooting guard out of Philadelphia has always been known for his ability to score the basketball. He has mastered the art of scoring whether that be driving the ball to the basket, pulling up for midrange jumpers, posting up for fade-away jumpers, or draining three-pointers. Every basketball fan, Laker fan or not, knows Kobe can flat out score the basketball. Kobe has won two NBA Scoring Titles averaging 35.4 points per game in 2005-2006 and 31.6 points per game in 2006-2007. He also fell just shy of the record books when he scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors on January 22, 2006.

Kobe gets a lot of criticism for taking bad shots and being selfish with the basketball. This is true at times as Kobe averaged 27 shots per game in 2005-2006, when he won the scoring title, but with that being said he was playing on a Lakers team that had a starting lineup of: Smush Parker, Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Chris Mihm, and Kwame Brown. No offense to the four other players on the court, but as Kobe stated, “I almost won an MVP with Smush Parker and Kwame Brown on my team. I was shooting 45 times a game. What was I supposed to do? Pass it to Chris Mihm or Kwame Brown?” Kobe understood his team and he understood that he needed to provide the scoring if they wanted a chance at winning. Although the Lakers did not win a championship in this year, Kobe still led the Lakers to a productive 7th place finish in the West with a point guard in Smush Parker who he called “the worst” and he went on later to say, “He shouldn’t have been in the NBA, but we were too cheap to pay for a good point guard. So we let him walk on.”

Now Kobe has mastered a trait that no other basketball player, besides Michael Jordan (from what I have heard), has: his desire to win. Kobe will do whatever it takes to win. Nothing will stop him in his pursuit for a championship whether it is an illness or an injury. Kobe has played through a plethora of injuries and he understands his dedication to the game as he once said, “I’ve played with IVs before, during and after games. I’ve played with a broken hand, a sprained ankle, a torn shoulder, a fractured tooth, a severed lip, and a knee the size of a softball.” Kobe has played through all these injuries, but the best example of his dedication to winning and battling is when Kobe tore his Achilles tendon. After tearing his Achilles tendon he stayed on the court to shoot his two free throws, which he made, and those two made free throws helped the Lakers beat the Warriors 118-116, which was a crucial win in their strive for a playoff spot on April 12^th, 2013.

Kobe Bryant is not used to losing. He has always been a winner no matter what he is doing and his competitiveness is what drives that. Right now the Los Angeles Lakers have started off the season at 0-5, their worst start since 1957. Unfortunately, these losses are going to continue piling up for Lakers and some believe that Kobe will get too frustrated with this and demand a trade. Come on readers, lets really think about this for a minute. You are telling me that Kobe Bryant is going to demand a trade to the 2-4 Knicks, the only team that can afford his salary, to try and win a championship in his last two years at the cost of giving up his legacy that he has earned over the last 18 years as a Laker? Although I just stated his competitiveness and drive to win, Kobe Bryant is tied with John Stockton for the most years that an NBA player has played with one team, 19. That has an enormous amount of value to it and giving that up in order to go to the Knicks, who are not very competitive, is a decision that is very poor in my eyes.

Kobe Bryant has shown the world his dedication towards the game of basketball over the past 18 years. It has been an honor getting to watch him play and I look forward to watching his last couple of years in the league before he gets elected to the Hall of Fame. Granted, it is going to be hard to watch one of the game’s greats fade away, and not just on jump shots, but he has taught so many that no matter what the circumstances are, always put 110% on the court and good results will show. So call him selfish if you want, but Kobe Bryant knows how to score the basketball and the only way he is going to do that if he has the ball in his hands. Kobe is one of the best to ever play the game of basketball and he has brought so much to the sport that he will be remembered forever and will go down as one of the best players to ever play the game of basketball. As Kobe puts it: “Everything negative – pressure, challenges – is all an opportunity for me to rise.”

Things Do Not Always Work Out As Planned

Going into my junior year, my San Marcos High School basketball team had very high expectations for the upcoming year. It was the first year of a new coach, a new system, and it all just felt right. We were a team that got after it on defense, had a very balanced offensive attack, and lastly we had great chemistry between teammates. Christian Widmer, Kevin Hempy, and I all had been voted by the team to be co-captains and we were all looking forward to leading a really fun and successful year.

The season finally came to a start after a long preseason. Our team was anxious to beat our biggest rival, the Santa Barbara Dons. The Dons have always been our biggest rival and no matter what the talent looked like on each team, one could always count on San Marcos vs. Santa Barbara basketball games to be exciting, high intensity battles. We started off by playing some very good ball clubs, but by the time league started we were 9-4 with a championship win over Santa Barbara in the Jim Bashore Holiday Classic Tournament in Carpinteria.

We started off league against Dos Pueblos at home, but we suffered a shocking defeat. Fortunately after this we rallied for six straight with away wins against both cross time rivals Santa Barbara and Dos Pueblos. We were now 6-1 going into our home game against Santa Barbara and this was a very important game for the current league standings. The game went back and forth and finally we found ourselves up by 2 points with 10 seconds remaining. A Santa Barbara Dons player shot a three-pointer and missed and then Christian Widmer grabbed the rebound. Instead of holding on to the ball, Christian decided to throw it down court as time was expiring, but he didn’t realize that there was still about 6 seconds left. Noah Burke, a Santa Barbara player, then grabbed the ball and shot it from half court…nothing but net. I was standing directly under the basket when the ball went through the net, and the feeling that I had after the shot went in with the addition of all the Santa Barbara fans rushing onto the court, was absolutely devastating.

Our team was still 6-2, but suffering this defeat was not as easy thing to swallow. We still had one more game against Santa Barbara so now we were even more eager to play them again. We ended up going 1-1 in our next two games before meeting up with Santa Barbara on Tuesday November 5^th, 2013. Since we lost on Friday night to Dos Pueblos, we had a Saturday practice. Unfortunately during this practice, I suffered a very bad ankle sprain. By Saturday night, my ankle looked like there was an egg inside of it and on Sunday I needed crutches to get around. This injury absolutely destroyed me emotionally as I was looking forward to this big game on Tuesday. I was committed to doing anything I could in order to at least try and play for my team, as I was a key part to my team’s success.

I iced, I received laser treatment, and lastly I got my ankle worked on to try and do whatever I could to quicken the recovery process. By Monday I was able to walk with an ankle brace on, and by Tuesday I was not 100%, but I was ready to give it all that I had in this very important game against Santa Barbara. I warmed up and the game began, but I was not myself with this injury. By the second quarter I was in a ton of pain and I tried to do whatever I could to tough it out, but I had to pull myself from the game at halftime. I ended with 0 points and 2 steals for the night. We unfortunately lost this game by 10 points and lost Channel League by one game to the Santa Barbara Dons.

Taking a step back and realizing that we essentially lost the league championship on a half court shot hurt in a way that could not be described as I still think about it up to this day. To add on to that I was in a position that I could not help my team in the last Santa Barbara game and not being able to help my team, or family, is something that killed me inside. There was absolutely nothing that I could in the 2^nd half of that basketball game and that was not an easy thing to overcome.

Going into my senior year the expectations were just as high and the motivation level was even higher. Unfortunately, I battled bronchitis at the start of the season and I suffered a concussion right in the middle of league. The concussion occurred during the biggest game of the year at home against Santa Barbara. The game was sold out and I felt like we had a really good chance of winning. We lost that game and after being diagnosed with a concussion after the game, I felt pretty down. I felt powerless in a way where all I could do was sit at the end of my bench for 3 weeks and encourage my teammates on in the midst of what was supposed to be the teams best year and my best year individually. I received 1^st Team All Channel League my junior year and my goals were even higher as I was looking to win league and with that hopefully obtain that MVP award. We ended up losing all three games to Santa Barbara my senior year and I got to watch them go undefeated in league and win back-to-back Channel League Championships, while my team finished tied for second with a losing record of 5-7. I went from a high of making the Varsity Basketball team as a sophomore to earning a disappointing 2^nd Team All Channel League Award to finish my senior year. Of course there are always going to be “what ifs” and wishes of things happening differently, but through these experiences I have learned a lot about adversity and how that translates to my life.

Obstacles are going to be put in front of you that are not always expected and learning to face those obstacles in a way where we can grow is what everyone should be striving for. I could of easily just given up after my concussion, but I decided that there was more than just the league at stake. My teammates, coaches, and school were all relying on me both as a captain and player, and I wanted to prove to them that I could be a crucial part of this team again going forward. I learned how to fight back and try and get myself to point where I was playing my best basketball again after losing rhythm and crucial time on the basketball court. Even though everyone else was getting better while I was recovering from an injury, I still had to take the mindset of “no excuses” and work as hard as I could in order to get to where I wanted to be.

Throughout my basketball career I learned how to handle disappointment, unmet expectations, both with my team and individually, and how to overcome injuries at critical times. This translates to life because life is going to throw curveballs at you sometimes, and how one reacts to those curveballs is what is going to mold and make a person who they are. So much of our world today is all about getting out of hard stuff and taking the easy way out, but embracing, attacking, and experiencing those undeserving situations will lead to a great deal of success and satisfaction as we take on this journey of life.

Dodgers Are Out, What’s Next?

The Dodgers have just exited the playoffs with a lot of disappointment from ownership, the players, and of course, the fans. They have the highest payroll in baseball and they have put a ton of money and expectation into this year. Unfortunately for the Dodgers, the Cardinals had other plans and they did not allow the Dodgers to get in the way of those plans.

The Dodgers have a lot of decisions to make, which could result in many changes. The first of these changes need to start at the top. Ned Colleti, the current General Manager of the Dodgers, has yet to find a roster that will succeed all the way to the top. There were too many expectations coming into this year so don’t be surprised if you see Ned Colleti out of a job. Who would replace him? My prediction would be Andrew Friedman, the current GM of the Tamba Bay Rays. He has been handcuffed in Tamba Bay for years, as his budget is very limited to make a competitive roster. He has still managed to be very competitive and he knows how to be efficient with what he has. Although he will have a lot more money in LA, ownership does not want to become a team that just spends money on big name stars who are starting to come out of their prime. Adding a GM like Friedman would allow the Dodgers to go out and make efficient and smart moves with the money available, but also continue to strengthen the minor league levels as that is such a crucial part of building a strong team for years to come.

There also has been some noise about Don Mattingly’s job being in jeopardy. He made some very questionable decisions on when or not to make a call to the bullpen this postseason and those poor decisions could cost him his job. Putting Scott Elbert in who pitched no more than 10 games in the regular season to face a lefty was a decision that cost him a very important game. Although he has managed to create good team chemistry and has done a good job at keeping the clubhouse in order, start looking for other names to manage the Dodgers next year.

The Dodgers looked great throughout the year and unfortunately injuries had a big affect on their roster, especially in their rotation. The Dodgers current have a 3-headed monster at the top of the rotation with Kershaw-Greinke-Ryu, but they do not have much insurance at the back of the rotation. Look for the Dodgers to go after a guy like James Shields on a 3-year deal worth around 40 Million, with a 4th year vesting option. Adding a guy like Shields will allow the Dodgers to have insurance at the back of their rotation and insurance for injuries. Look for the Dodgers to sign a couple of other starting pitchers on 1-year deals with some upside or look to their minor leagues at a guy like Zach Lee to compete for that 5^th spot in the rotation. The biggest problem the Dodgers have faced throughout the entire season and in the playoffs is their bullpen. It has been pathetic to watch and many changes need to be addressed in this area of the roster. Brian Wilson is no longer the guy he used to be and the Dodgers should be looking to acquire a new setup man, but also reliable relievers that will be able to come in and shut down hitters towards the latter part of a ballgame. Now Hanley Ramirez is going to be a guy to watch in Free Agency. I expect the Dodgers to offer him a qualifying offer, which I think he will ultimately end up declining. The Dodgers will eventually end up cutting ties with him due to his poor defense and inconsistent health. Lastly, the Dodgers have four very high priced outfielders and at least one, if not two, need to be moved. My prediction is that you will see Andre Ethier along with a good chunk of money traded to an AL team to be a platoon hitter for a mid-tier pitching prospect with some potential. I would also not be surprised to see Carl Crawford traded along with a large sum of money to an AL team that is willing to give him a chance, as he showed us during the second half of the season that he still has a lot left in the tank. Look for Matt Kemp to move over to LF, Joc Pederson to start in CF, and Puig to move back over to RF with his ridiculous arm. Having traded two outfielders away, the Dodgers would most likely try to acquire a utility guy, like Emilio Bonafacio,  who would fit in nicely on the bench with power Scott Van Slyke. Although Dodger fans are disappointed, they have a lot to look forward too as they are just a couple of moves away from getting themselves to a World Series.

Off-Season Moves

1. Sign James Shields: 3 Year $40 Million Deal, with vesting option for 4^th year
2. Revamp Entire Bullpen, Resign Kenley Jansen
3. Offer Hanley Ramirez Qualifying Offer, He Declines, Alex Guerrero/Erisbel Arruebarrena fight for starting SS spot
4. Trade Ethier/Money + Crawford/Money for raw pitching prospects/Start Joc Pederson
5. Offer Qualifying Offer/Resign Dee Gordon, Justin Turner, AJ Ellis
6. Acquire Russell Martin in free agency while still having AJ Ellis as a role player
7. Dan Haren picks up his option and fights for the 5th spot in the rotation

2015 General Manager: Andrew Friedman

2015 Manager: Joe Maddon (Friedman is bringing him with him to LA)

2015 Starting Rotation: Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Hyun-Jin Ryu, James Shields, Dan Haren

2015 Starting Lineup:

Dee Gordon, 2B

Yasiel Puig, RF

Adrian Gonzalez, 1B

Matt Kemp, LF

Joc Pederson, CF

Russell Martin, C

Juan Uribe, 3B

Alex Guerrero/Erisbel Arruebarrena, SS

Clayton Kershaw, SP

2015 Bullpen: Brandon League, Brian Wilson, Paco Rodriguez, Koji Uehara, , J.P. Howell, Mike Adams, Kenley Jansen

2015 Bench: Justin Turner, Scott Van Slyke, AJ Ellis, Emilio Bonifacio, Alex Guerrero/Erisbel Arruebarrena (whoever doesn’t start)