The last four seasons, the Lakers have started the off-season with big hopes and aspirations. It all began in the summer of 2012. The Lakers had a trade on the table centered around All-Star point guard, Chris Paul. All parties agreed to the trade and the Lakers future had become very clear. Lakers fans were rejoicing and already guaranteeing NBA titles for upcoming years. Then David Stern happened. David Stern, the NBA Commissioner at the time, had other plans. Stern vetoed the trade, keeping Chris Paul with the New Orleans Pelicans. When the summer ended and the NBA season was among us, the Lakers were still feeling very good about themselves. They had still managed to acquire Dwight Howard, the most dominant big man in the game, and also two-time MVP Steve Nash from the Phoenix Suns. Despite those big acquisitions, the 2012-2013 season was very difficult to watch if you were a Lakers fan. Injuries plagued the team all season, including Kobe Bryant tearing his Achilles near the end of the season.
At the end of the 2012-2013 season, Dwight Howard chose to leave Los Angeles for Houston, leaving the Lakers with a big question mark entering the season. The summer after the 2013-2014 season was just as frustrating. The Lakers went after all the big free agents, including guys like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Bosh, only to strike out for the second consecutive summer. The Lakers caught a small break by receiving the number two pick in the 2015 draft. The Lakers selected D’Angelo Russell with that pick who showed a lot of promise throughout his rookie season. Free agency began by the Lakers heavily pursuing LaMarcus Aldridge. Aldridge, like the rest of the top Free Agents, chose to sign elsewhere, leaving the Lakers struggling to fill roster spots with quality talent.
That leads us to this summer. The Lakers just finished a season with the second worst record in the NBA. The first hope was the NBA draft, which featured two high profile college basketball players who were all but guaranteed to be selected with the top two picks. The Lakers fortunately kept their second pick, and have recently selected Brandon Ingram. Considering the circumstances, this summer has gotten off to a great start.
So what should Lakers fans realistically expect in free agency? The Lakers will again have high hopes of signing a big name Free Agent. It is already being reported that neither Kevin Durant nor Demar DeRozan will listen to an offer from the Lakers. And to be honest, the Lakers should move on from even trying. The Lakers have a very young and talented group. Their main targets this summer should be Al Horford, Hassan Whiteside, or Bismack Biyombo. Realistically the Lakers should primarily focus on the latter of the two. Whiteside (27) and Biyombo (23) would better fit with the young talent the Lakers have. Whiteside or Biyombo would be able to grow with the team and complete the starting five with a big presence on the inside. Either of those guys may not make the Lakers an immediate championship contender, but it sure would allow the future to be brighter than it has looked in the past.
