The Lakers are going to make noise this year, but that'll mainly be because they're surrounded by more microphones than most NBA teams. The sound will signify little in terms of on-court relevance, though.
You don't have to agree that L.A. might be the worst team in the league by season's end, but you must concede that the playoffs feel like a long shot.
This is a stopgap period between eras. Kobe Bryant playing out two more years, short-time vets filling out the roster and Byron Scott running the show with an alarmingly old-school style ill-suited for whatever future the organization has—all signs of the holding pattern.
Because the Lakers are stuck in neutral for the time being, the only thing that should matter is the development of young players who might still be around two years from now, when they shift into drive.
That's a short list. Randle is the only one on it.
Perplexing then, isn't it, that Carlos Boozer is on the roster. At 6'9" and 250 pounds, Randle is suited only for the power forward spot at this stage in his career. He's not quick or athletic enough to guard wings, and until he flashes a reliable jumper, he must play to his strengths as an interior scorer on offense.
Yet Boozer has started ahead of Randle in every Lakers preseason game, logging 116 minutes to Randle's 95 through five contests. This is difficult to comprehend.
Regularly pilloried for his defensive failures, Boozer is doing a heck of a job denying Randle the ball.
It takes time—years, really—to develop a prospect. So focusing on the first exhibition season of Randle's career is shortsighted. But you'd think that if the Lakers were as focused as they should be on grooming him, Randle would be collecting as many minutes as possible in g...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
