While most the Los Angeles Lakers rebuild is focused on the revamping the roster and the upcoming off-season, the team is also focused on improving their image off the court.
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The Lakers have been practicing at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo for years, but plan on operating from another building in the near future. The team bought land minutes from their current spot in hopes to construct a newer facility. According to the Daily Breeze’s Carly Dryden, the proposal received city approval which allows the team to move forward with their plans:
The El Segundo City Council has granted unanimous approval of a new state-of-the-art training facility and exhibition venue for the NBA team, just one block north of the home it shares with he Los Angeles Kings at the Toyota Sports Center. The two-story, 122,000-square-foot facility is expected to open in spring 2017 at 710 N. Nash St. in Campus El Segundo.
The new facility can be another recruiting tool for the Lakers as they try to lure in free agents. By the time the building finishes construction in 2017, the Lakers will be entering another important off-season.
It is almost a forgone conclusion Kobe Bryant will be retired by 2017. The Lakers will still be looking to build another championship contending team and Russell Westbrook’s contract expires in 2017 as the Oklahoma City Thunder point guard hits free-agency. The Lakers can always try to lure the former UCLA product.
Of course, the team is more focused on this year’s summer. The Lakers will learn where their draft pick lands May 19 and hope on having a top-five pick. In addition, plenty of cap room is available for the team to sign free agents and continue their rebuild. General manager Mitch Kupchak believes the turnaround can come quickly. With the team’s plans of a new facility taking its next step, the Lakers can sell the team’s future growth.
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