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Last Season’s Rank
15
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Projected 2013/2014
Finish
14
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Last
season’s Team Statistics and League Rank
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Returning
Individual Statistical Leaders
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Projected
Starters Based on Talent, Tenure, Paycheck and Potential Impact:
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Second Unit Roster Order Ranked on Talent, Tenure, Paycheck and Potential Impact:
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Analysis:
Last season was both a tragedy and a comedy of errors as the Lakers went from potential champion contenders to scrambling just to reach the playoffs only to get embarrassingly eliminated in the the first round. Now The Lakers enter the new season without the player that they gave up so much for in the off season and tabbed as the franchise's future as he bailed out on them choosing instead to leave as a unrestricted free agent and sign with another team. That left Lakers scrambling to pick up the pieces as they searched for answers to offset the massive loss caused by the sudden departure of +Dwight Howard and picked up what little that they could in the off season; however, despite the shocking blow of losing Howard, the Lakers are still in good shape as they still have the talent and personnel to reach the playoffs once again. In fact, one can go as far to say that the Lakers are even better off without Howard as they will be rid of all the distractions and discontent that he brought on the team while also give the team a chance to achieve something they have not done for a very long time in falling below the salary cap by season's end. In his short stint wearing purple and gold, Howard became a source of disharmony as he expected to be the man from day one without earning his place in the Lakers franchise and ingratiating himself to the team's current franchise star, Kobe Bryant. In his first interview, when asked whether it would be his or Kobe's team, he basically shrugged it off and said that they were the Lakers and it was not really anybody's team. That is not the most appropriate statement especially for a newbie who had never won an NBA Championship in his career and has only been to one NBA Finals. If anything, he should have shown restraint and humility knowing full well that he was the outsider and it was his job to adjust himself to the team rather than the other way around. Unfortunately that did not happen as both Howard and the Lakers would spend the entire season completely out of sync as they simply lacked the cohesiveness and the chemistry that they portrayed before and that was primarily due to Howard basically driving a wedge in the middle of the team. Howard's departure also meant greater financial flexibility for this rebuilding team as they will not have to deal with his hefty paycheck that they would have had to play him along with the other immense salaries on that roster. Had Howard signed a massive extension with LA, he would have placed the Lakers WAY over the Luxury tax threshold with the contracts of Pau Gasol, Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash totally altogether to nearly 80$ million alone for the team's starting five. What's worse is that signing Howard long term probably would not have guaranteed another Laker championship run, but more than likely much of the same as last season and that would not have been the 20$ or so million in luxury tax penalties that the Lakers would have incurred. At least Howard's departure would allow the Lakers more salary cap flexibility as they will be under the salary cap for the first time in what can be considered as eons and will be able to pursue a top tier free agent in what will be considered as the deepest free agent classes in recent memory. So in effect, Howard's departure actually helped the Lakers long term as he not only be a distraction and source of discontent for the team, but gives the Lakers a chance to rebuild through free agency. Both Gasol's and Kobe's contracts will expire by season's end giving the Lakers close to 46$ million in cap space allowing the team to court top tier free agents such as +LeBron James, +Carmelo Anthony , +Dwyane Wade and +Chris Bosh to name a few. Granted, the chances are pretty slim for the Lakers will be able to acquire any of these players as both the +New York Knicks and +Miami HEAT will simply just let go their best players without a fight, but that does not stop the Lakers in still being a big player come off season. Such a luxury as immense salary cap space can be used to easier facilitate potential sign and trade deal with a team that is over the salary cap as they will not be forced to match salary for salary. Even if they do not accomplish their goal to get a superstar talent, they can still vie for lesser names for less money such as +Chicago Bulls +Loul Deng, or Toronto's +Rudy Gay and still resign Kobe and Pau and stay within the luxury tax threshold. Add the fact that Los Angeles still managed to pick up some low cost but high quality pieces in the off season such as swing men Nick Young and Wesley Johnson along with familiar face Jordan Farmar who had an exceptional season while playing for +EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL and veteran center Chris Kaman, the Lakers still have enough talent to keep their opponents on their toes in a heavily competitive Westeren Conference. Despite the rosy outlook, however, it will still remain a very hard season regardless as the Lakers will have to scratch and scrape once again for a playoff berth at season's end. With up and coming teams such as the +Minnesota Timberwolves and the +Portland Trail Blazers who have made significant upgrades in their along with the ascension of the +Houston Rockets as a championship contender thanks to their stealing away of Dwight Howard, the Lakers will not be able to simply slip by into the post season. Lets not forget the already established Western Conference powerhouses in the +Los Angeles Clippers, +Oklahoma City Thunder and +San Antonio Spurs that will keep the Lakers moving any high in the West than seventh or eight place along with fringe teams such as the +Denver Nuggets and +Memphis Grizzlies that will be nipping at their heels as well. To even manage just to qualify for the post season, the Lakers will have to play near perfect basketball and will certainly have to step up their intensity, especially on the defensive end which was their greatest Achilles Heel of last season. With a stronger effort on the defensive end, near perfect offensive execution to go along with an All Star veteran lineup, the Lakers will still be able to keep their playoff streak alive, but don't expect any championships from this group because this group is far too gone to be even considered as a viable contender. |
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Tuesday, October 1, 2013
SDH's 2013/2014 NBA Worst to First Previews and Predictions: 14. Los Angeles Lakers
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