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.
Next: Backcourt and Frontcourt Needs
The Lakers essentially need to improve the entire backcourt this off-season, and the main trait that they should focus on is quickness. Quick and small point guards have been the death of the Lakers for the previous postseasons, and what better way to resolve this issue than to acquire their own speedy guard. Some players that come to mind that would fit into the Lakers system are Ty Lawson, Aaron Brooks, Darren Collison, and Jrue Holiday. Acquiring at least one of these point guards with a simple swap would immensely help the Lakers backcourt.
In terms of the center position, the Lakers do not necessarily need a new big man because they already have two productive players in Bynum and Gasol, but there is some concern around Bynum’s health and Gasol’s attitude. Bynum has suffered at least one form of knee injury in the previous three seasons, which has ultimately affected his production in the playoffs. Even though Bynum is young, he is a liability to the Lakers organization. Gasol on the other hand has not been injury prone for his entire Laker career, but he has been severely criticized for his lack of toughness down in the paint, and that was evident in the series against the Mavericks.
Dwight Howard has been the center of discussion as a potential addition to the Lakers for the upcoming year. The winner of the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year Award for the past three years has reportedly lost confidence with the Orlando Magic as they have been unable to deliver the right pieces for a championship. Even though the addition of Dwight Howard would be a welcome addition to the Lakers lineup, the core group of big men is already established. The length and strength of Bynum and Gasol has worked for the past two championships, and there should be no major shakeup in this area.
Next: Young Blood and Three-Point Threats
Shannon Brown, Theo Ratliff, and Joe Smith will become free agents this off-season, and this will serve as the best opportunity to turn the Laker bench into a set of young players. Brown is the only player that should be re-signed from this list as his offensive and defensive development is continuously growing. We learned this past regular season that in addition to his explosive takeoffs from the floor, he can also be a three-point threat. The other players did not meet expectations, and the only thing that will continue to grow is their age.
Improving the bench arsenal with three-point threats could be the best way to supplement the Lakers starting five. As proven by Sasha Vujacic in the previous seasons, when the Lakers bench is shooting threes, the Lakers become one of the most dangerous teams in the league. Some players that can fill this current void are Courtney Lee from the Rockets, Nick Young from the Wizards, J.J. Reddick from the Magic, and J.R. Smith from the Nuggets. Not only would this help their three-point issue, but also their backcourt situation. I would even consider picking up Vujacic from free agency just to have that same championship feel from previous years.
In summary, the Lakers should transition a younger point guard into the starting lineup, provide a bevy of young and athletic players in the backcourt, and load the Lakers bench with a few three-point threats. Essentially, the Lakers front office should acquire younger players for championship runs as opposed to veteran players for championship runs.