The Los Angeles Lakers after there worst franchise season on record landed second in the lottery with the overall number 2 pick. Heres a recap of where they’re at, what they need and what they might possible do
Areas of Strength
The front-office has a track record of being able to construct championship rosters. And L.A. is a great place to live. Beaches. Mountains. Deserts. Let’s see. What else…. Oh, and Julius Randle, the 2014 lottery pick, is a very good building block, and Jordan Clarkson as well if he proves the jump from second-round pick to contender for the All-Rookie team wasn’t a one-hit wonder.
Needs Work
The offense. The defense. The good news for rookies is that they will have a chance to make an immediate contribution, as a backup playing real minutes if not the starter within the first season. A lot more will be known after the current roster loaded with free agents is finalized. But for now, it is known that the Lakers finished 24th in offensive rating and 29th in defensive rating.
Two Stats That Matter
41 — Games Kobe Bryant has played the last two seasons while working around knee and Achilles’ tendon injuries.
4 — Categories where Jordan Clarkson ranked in the top five among rookies after being drafted in the second round: points, assists, field-goal percentage and free-throw percentage.
The Way To Go
Taking Jahlil Okafor with the second pick would likely provide an immediate and long-term scoring punch, but also a dilemma because Okafor’s strength and Randle’s strength are the same, scoring inside. While a lot of teams believed before the 2014 draft that Randle can develop a perimeter game, the Lakers will likely give Ohio State guard D’Angelo Russell a long look.
2014-15 Team Stats (points per 100 possessions, with NBA rank)
Offensive: 103.4 (24th)
Defensive: 110.6 (29th)
Under Contract
G: Kobe Bryant
G: Jordan Clarkson
G: Nick Young
F: Ryan Kelly
F: Julius Handle
C: Tarik Black
C: Robert Sacre
Free Agents
G: Vander Blue (restricted)
G: Wayne Ellington (unrestricted)
G: Jeremy Lin (unrestricted)
G: Ronnie Price (unrestricted)
F: Carlos Boozer (unrestricted)
F: Ed Davis (player option)
F: Wesley Johnson (unrestricted)
C: Jordan Hill (team option)
Recent Draft History
2014: Julius Randle (7)
2013: Ryan Kelly (48)
2012: Robert Sacre (60)
2011: Darius Morris (41), Andrew Goudelock (46), Ater Mojak (58)
2010: Devin Ebanks (43), Derrick Caracter (58)
