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The Los Angeles Lakers are in a precarious position heading into the 2012-2013 season. The fact of the matter is, that in retrospect, they are in the exact same position that they were in at the end of the previous season. The only difference is that the more recent version of the Lakers won a game in the second round of the playoffs.
At the end of the 2010-2011 season, it was blatantly obvious that the Lakers needed an infusion of youth. The roster needed to get younger. The purple and gold needed foot speed, shooters and a back-up big at power forward or center.
Hall of Fame guard and Laker legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson stated that L.A. needed to blow up the roster. Several people feel that it is as simple as Occam’s razor, but they are mistaken. The Lakers are a franchise with a long rich history, where anything less than a championship is unacceptable.
The Lakers’ core consists of two talented big men and an aging superstar on the wing. The question for this team is: do we break up the core and, if so, who do we move? Some have suggested that the Lakers use the NBA amnesty clause on Kobe Bryant. If the Lakers took this surprising course of action, it would free up salary cap space so I can see the argument. However, neither Bryant nor his contract are what ails the Lakers. L.A. would never get equal value in terms of return on investment. Their biggest problem is that they simply have gotten old.
Kobe is the face of the franchise that averaged 30-points per game last season. This team has always had a force in the middle. However, Lakers’ management needs to take a long hard look in the mirror and decide if keeping the current model of two seven-footer’s in the starting lineup is the best course of action.
L.A. has exercised its $16.1 million option on Andrew Bynum’s contract. This action secures his services for 2012-2013 but, unless the team can sign their All-Star center to a long-term deal, the upcoming season could be his last in Los Angeles. Bynum is extremely talented with a tremendous amount of potential, but at this point, he still cannot be trusted.
The Lakers’ General Manager Mitch Kupchak recently stated that there would be changes. L.A. is financially hand-cuffed and does not have money to spend on free agents or a first-round draft pick and has only the mini mid-level exception at its disposal. The Lakers hold the 60th pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, the last of the second round.
This 2012 playoff berth marked the Lakers’ 59th appearance in the postseason in 64 seasons and their 31st playoff berth in 33 seasons since Jerry Buss purchased the franchise prior to the 1979-1980 season. Although their recent playoff runs have been short, the 2011-2012 season featured them capturing their fifth straight Pacific Division Title (23rd overall). Kupchak, tasked with ensuring that his team continue to be a perennial title contender, has to find a way to pull a rabbit out of his hat… so to speak.
The Lakers aren’t in need of major changes. But the decision that looms large for Kupchak and Lakers’ management is: do we trade Andrew Bynum or [power forward] Pau Gasol? Before a trade can happen, L.A. will be in need of a trade partner and teams are not exactly lining up with a desire to help the Lakers improve.
Several people have looked at the Lakers’ roster and claimed that it was top-heavy. The reality is that the top half of the roster was not the problem… it was the bottom half. The non-existent contribution of reserves Troy Murphy, Matt Barnes, Josh McRoberts and Steve Blake – and their inability to knock down shots – nudged the team’s demise along. The failed Chris Paul trade (thanks David Stern), the shortened season and Mike Brown and staff not developing Devin Ebanks, Darius Morris and Andrew Goudelock… these were all huge factors in the Lakers’ ultimate lack of success.
It appears that Gasol is the odd man out. The predicament that he finds himself in is not his fault. The skilled big man was brought to L.A. in February 2008 to be the anchor in the low post of the triangle offense. New Lakers’ management has decided to go away from the triangle and run a more traditional offense, but said offense has Andrew Bynum as the anchor in the low post. This has forced Pau Gasol, a seven-footer, to operate farther away from the basket.
The Lakers would be wise to determine Gasol’s trade value and – if he is traded – move him for a sharpshooting play-maker or a player and draft picks. Then, they should bring back and develop Devin Ebanks, Darius Morris, Andrew Goudelock and Christian Eyenga.
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