On one hand, the Lakers should be all-in on competing for the playoffs and giving Kobe Bryant the best possible chance at playoff success in the last few years of his career. He deserves as much.
On the other hand, the Lakers should be preparing for life after Kobe, and developing young players to better the future and make sure the franchise doesn't tailspin like it did last year after losing Bryant for nearly the whole season.
That isn't to say the two goals need to be mutually exclusive, but it puts new head coach Byron Scott in a somewhat difficult position. Should he siphon away minutes from rookie Julius Randle to play a veteran like Carlos Boozer? What's the primary objective?
Here's what Byron Scott told Mike Trudell at Lakers.com:
I know it's going to be a tough road, but when I start training camp, the first thing I'm going to tell our guys is that our goal is to win the championship. I want them thinking that way from day one. People aren't picking us to make the playoffs, sure, but that's not how we're going to approach it. We have to change the mindset. I know it may take a year or two, and I think Kobe knows that, but he already has that championship mindset. It's not hard to convince him. Convincing everyone else is the biggest trick we have to do, but that's how we have to do it.
As you can see, it's not a black and white situation. The Lakers can play for the future without tanking. They can try and compete by playing young players. It's a delicate balance, one that will require trust and patience from both Bryant and the rest of the front office.
One thing we know is certain: So long as Bryant is in a Lakers jersey, the Lakers are his team. Everything will run through him.
Here's J.M. Poulard for Bleacher Report on how Scott's hiring impacts that:<...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
