The prime example is a season that went from bad to worse, beginning with an unfathomable number of injuries and ending with the team’s worst record in franchise history at 21-61.
There are also impressions offering glimpses of hope, while still others point to areas where a strategic shift could pay dividends.
But one thing is certain: For a proud organization that has ebbed ever further from its glory days, change is not only welcome, it is an imperative.
The youth movement is here to stay
There are only four Lakers with guaranteed contracts. Kobe Bryant will be 37 when he returns next season after a long injury layoff, while Nick Young will be 30 when training camp rolls around.
And then things start skewing younger. Julius Randle will return at age 20 after missing all but 14 minutes of his rookie season with a broken leg, while Ryan Kelly, 24, will be back for his third NBA campaign.
Meanwhile, management is sure to pick up the option on 22-year-old Jordan Clarkson, the rookie point guard out of Missouri who started 38 games this season. After his exit interview, the second-round wunderkind talked about his motivation and desire for continued improvement.
“I’m not satisfied with what I did this year,” said Clarkson, per Lakers.com. “I’m just trying to come back and be better, for sure.”
The Lakers also have options on two undrafted rookies who performed well—big man Tarik Black, 23, and shooting guard Jabari Brown, 22, who was Clarkson’s fellow backcourt starter at Mizzou.
Plus there is Ed Davis, who, at 25, had his best year yet in the NBA. The energetic power forward will opt out of his $1.1 million option but woul...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
