After two consecutive second-round playoff disasters, one at the hands of the champion Mavericks, the other by the electrifying Oklahoma City Thunder, it is time for Mitch Kupchak and the LA front office to make some serious moves if they want to remain relevant contenders for a title next season. Tensions haven’t been this high, and rumors this wild, since Shaq (or Dr. O’Neal as of late) demanded a trade in 2003.
Things have already gotten off to a rocky start this offseason. Key acquisition Ramon Sessions opted out of his one-year extension for unrestricted free agency leaving a gaping hole at point guard. Dwight Howard, who was a rumored target for some time, demanded a trade to Brooklyn which subsequently wipes away any hope the Lakers had at trading for this season’s prized free agent Deron Williams. And finally, the Draft proved uneventful for the Lakers who were rumored to try to trade up for a top five pick.
So where does that leave the Lake Show?
The biggest obstacle is the unwieldy salary cap that the Lakers have been hefting around all season. Overpaid and underperforming, with a collectively aged group spells a worrisome future. The amount of guaranteed money tied up in their salary cap could leave LA in a Brian Sabean type scenario where throwing millions at a veteran core (i.e. Zito, Huff, F. Sanchez, Mota, and DeRosa) has at times proven to be as fruitless as a pine tree. Even worse, it handcuffs them from addressing holes in their lineup. As former Laker executive Jerry West explained to the Los Angeles Times:
"The Lakers have been historically good in going out...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
