The 2013-14 NBA season was a disaster for the Los Angeles Lakers. Nothing went right all year long with the team suffering a historic amount of injuries while also finishing the season with a franchise-worst 27-55 record.
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Although the season was a massive disappointment for the purple and gold, one player performed much better than anticipated and may have secured a future with the team. Rookie Ryan Kelly had a solid first season with the Lakers and might be able to return next season.
According to Mike Trudell of Lakers.com, the Lakers have a decision to make on Kelly in the coming weeks:
The Lakers have until June 30 to decide if they’ll make 2013-14 rookie Ryan Kelly a restricted free agent.
With only Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant and Robert Sacre currently under contract, the Lakers will likely look to fill the roster with young players eager to make an impression. Kelly fits that mold and will likely be retained as long as other teams around the league don’t value him more than the Lakers are willing to pay.
If the Lakers make Kelly a restricted free agent, the team will be able to match any offer teams will send his way. The Duke product definitely turned a lot of heads this season with his play off the bench, but it remains to be seen what the market will be for the sharp-shooting forward.
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Kelly proved to be a perfect fit for Mike D’Antoni’s offense with the ability to stretch the floor. Kelly improved with more time on the floor in Los Angeles and could continue to do so if given the chance next season.
Along with Kelly, the Lakers also have decisions to make on numerous other players including Pau Gasol, Nick Young, and Kent Bazemore. Basically, the entire roster is up for grabs with no clear indication on what players will be retained.
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