I say hopefully because the small, short-term actions leave a little to be desired. Yes, the Purple and Gold may have gotten a steal in drafting Julius Randle with the No. 7 pick, but that’s the only transaction one should get excited about.
Randle helped the Kentucky Wildcats make it to the NCAA title game before bowing out to the Connecticut Huskies. During his freshman season, Randle was a load for opponents because he beat them with a combination of brute strength and quickness on the block.
Randle should be a solid player, which makes him the most interesting acquisition the Lakers have made in the offseason. Everything else is either worthy of a yawn or a possible sign that the Lakers are no longer an attractive destination.
Not Winning the “Now”
The Lakers haven’t done much to get better in the summer.
L.A. wooed Carmelo Anthony, but he opted to remain with a New York Knicks team that won 37 games last year and has no cap space until 2015, per ShamSports.com.
How did the Lakers bounce back? They re-signed Jordan Hill to a two-year, $18 million deal. The second season is a team option. Although it’s a short contract, Hill only played 20.8 minutes per game during the 2013-14 season. Basketball-Reference.com tells us that was a career high. That’s not to say that Hill won’t live up to his deal, but I’m skeptical.
Hill’s been a reserve throughout the majority of his career because he’s a hustle player lacking an offensive repertoire. And yet, the franchise felt he was an important piece.
Yahoo Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski explains: “The Lakers greatly valued Hill, and held off a market that included the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets, league...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
