Let’s face the facts. The Lakers are turning into a team comprised solely of veterans who lack the energetic burst that most rising teams in this league have. There are nine players on the current roster who are at least 31 years old and they are only getting older and rustier. Mitch Kupchak has done a phenomenal job the past few years positioning the Lakers for multiple championship runs, but they are now in a hole. They are in a hole that is quickly becoming deeper, and unless the Lakers find young legs, they will be stuck in a rut.
This off-season will serve as the perfect break for the Lakers front office to analyze which formulas have worked in their previous championship runs. Even though the Lakers have developed their identity as a team of superstars, they will now need to find and develop new players for the years to come if they will want to contend for more championships. A minor shakeup will first need to come with the Lakers starting five so that their foundation is solid and younger.
Kobe Bryant is essentially untouchable on this roster, but the other Laker veterans will need to be dealt with. Derek Fisher should be the first player that should be replaced in the starting lineup. Fisher’s age and body cannot match the athleticism of younger and faster point guards in this league. The Lakers will definitely need to either transition one of the younger guards currently on the roster, such as Shannon Brown, or they can search for an entirely new point guard. A great addition to the team would be a speedy point guard, such as Aaron Brooks, who can instantly change the tempo of the game.
