Topic: With the season ending and a number of players’ contracts expiring this off-season, we examine which players the Lakers should bring back next season.
Context: Last off-season, the Lakers signed a number of players to one-year contracts. From former lottery picks to veterans trying to show they can still contribute to a team, this season amounted to something of a tryout for these players.
Additionally, guys like Pau Gasol and Jordan Hill will also be free agents after this season and it is up in the air as to whether either of them will return.
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As the season now winds down, it becomes time to evaluate what everyone has done this season. The Lakers obviously can’t bring back everyone, nor should they, but who should be the team’s main focus.
Hill, Gasol, Chris Kaman, Jodie Meeks, Xavier Henry, Kent Bazemore, Nick Young, Jordan Farmar, Wesley Johnson, and Kendall Marshall have all had great moments this season, but who should be the Lakers primary targets?
Verdict: We took the question to Twitter to ask our fans which three players they most want to see back on the Lakers next season. Here are some of the responses:
@TheeCoreyH @LakersNation Nick Young Pau Gasol Kent Bazemore with those 3 plus Kobe and out draft pick we should be up there again
— Travis (@Aussportsfan6) April 4, 2014
@TheeCoreyH tough question, 1- SwaggyP 2-Jodie Meeks 3-Jordan Farmar #Lakers
— #Kentucky (@JGravedigger) April 4, 2014
@TheeCoreyH @LakersNation Henry Hill Marshall
— JJ Stanford (@Jaymoola1985) April 4, 2014
@TheeCoreyH @LakersNation Young , Meeks , Farmar . the backup Pg , SG &' SF . nasty .
— Nicolas Quintero (@nico_quintero) April 4, 2014
With so many options, there are sure to be a lot of differing opinions, but the two players who have seemed to endear themselves the most to the fans as future Lakers are Nick Young and Jodie Meeks.
Both would make excellent role players as Young thrives off the bench, which is something few players do, and Meeks has arguably improved more than any other Laker from last season.
Jordan Farmar, Jordan Hill, Pau Gasol, and Kendall Marshall also were quite popular to return next year. At the end of the day, it will come down to what the Lakers value most.
Maybe they try to hit each spot and get a guard, wing, and big man. Combos like Farmar, Young, and Gasol, or Marshall, Henry, and Hill could be back next season.
In my personal opinion, I would love to see Farmar, Meeks, and Henry back next season as they seem to understand their roles best and bring versatility.
What do you think? Who should the Lakers bring back next season?
Join the debate below.
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