2014-15 NBA Season Preview: Los Angeles Lakers

Welcome to theScore's preview of the 2014-15 Los Angeles Lakers. Visit our preseason hub for previews of all 30 NBA teams.

Los Angeles Lakers

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2013-14

This was, quite literally, the worst season for the Lakers franchise since they've been in Los Angeles. Their .329 winning percentage is a black mark on the history and legacy of the forum blue and gold, topping only a 19-53 season from the Minneapolis Lakers in 1957-58.

It started and ended with injuries to superstar Kobe Bryant. Black Mamba made his return from a torn Achilles on Dec. 8, only to suffer a lateral tibial plateau fracture on Dec. 17.

Six games, 177 minutes and a two-year, $48.5-million contract extension made up Bryant's entire season, and trying seasons from Steve Nash (15 games) and Pau Gasol (60) left the team woefully thin at the top.

Mike D'Antoni would ultimately leave his post as head coach after the team refused to extend his contract. Even with the woeful record, it's tough to point blame in his direction - the team was led in minutes by Jodie Meeks and Wesley Johnson, while Nick Young was the team's highest-usage player. That's a raw hand to be dealt.

Offseason Roundup

Unfortunately, cap space, legacy and playing with Bryant weren't enough in concert to land a marquee free agent, something the team later admitted was unrealistic, anyway. Instead, the team brought back some core pieces on flexible, short-term deals, took a few low-cost fliers and, for the first time since 2005, had a top-10 pick.

In Xavier Henry, Jordan Hill, Wesley Johnson and Ryan Kelly, the Lakers returned what could be their primary second unit, all without going beyond 2016 on a deal. Young, meanwhile, was treated a bit better with a swaggy new four-year, $21.3-million deal that isn't a terrible value but is of a questionable term given the team's potential plans for the summer of 2016.

Elsewhere, the departure of Gasol to the Chicago Bulls saw the Bulls amnesty Carlos Boozer, who the Lakers swooped in to grab via amnesty waivers for just $3.3 million. That made their earlier acquisition of Ed Davis seem superfluous, but on a two-year, $2.1-million contract Davis remains one heck of a bargain.

Like with Boozer, the Lakers again leveraged against the spending of other teams by taking Jeremy Lin off the Houston Rockets' hands, netting a future first and second round pick for their troubles.

It wasn't splashy, but the Lakers maintained flexibility, improved their talent base and helped build for the future. There are worse ways to spend an offseason.

Additions

PF Carlos Boozer (amnesty waiver, 1/$3.3M)
PF Ed Davis (2/$2.1M)
SG Wayne Ellington (undisclosed)
*SG Xavier Henry (1/$1M)
*PF Jordan Hill (2/$18M)
PG Jeremy Lin (trade)
*SF Wesley Johnson (1/$1M)
*PF Ryan Kelly (2/$3.4M)
SG Ronnie Price (undisclosed)
PF Jeremy Tyler (undisclosed)
SG Nick Young (4/$21.3M)

*Re-signed

Departures

PG Kent Bazemore (free agency)
SG MarShon Brooks (free agency)
PG Jordan Farmar (free agency)
PF/C Pau Gasol (free agency)
C Chris Kaman (free agency)
PG Kendall Marshall (free agency)
SG Jodie Meeks (free agency)

2014 Draft

PF Julius Randle (1st round, 7th overall)
PG Jordan Clarkson (2nd round, 46th overall)

The Lakers aren't exactly accustomed to having high draft picks, selecting just a single time in the top-10 since 1995 (Andrew Bynum in 2005). You'd forgive the fanbase for being unclear on how to temper expectations for a high pick, considering.

There's good reason for excitement about Randle, the power forward out of Kentucky that the Lakers took at No. 7. While a foot issue that may or may not become a problem in future years saw some teams cool on Randle, the Lakers never seemed too worried. He may not profile as the eventual heir to the Bryant throne, but in Randle the Lakers have drafted an NBA-ready scorer that can help make the most of Bryant's final seasons.

In the second round, the Lakers bought a pick and grabbed Clarkson out of Missouri, giving them the option to go with a bigger look at the point. That size - Clarkson is 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan - sees him profile as a strong, two-position defender and a capable secondary ball-handler.

Starting 5

• PG Steve Nash
• SG Kobe Bryant
• SF Nick Young
• PF Carlos Boozer
• C Jordan Hill

Breakout Player: Jordan Hill

The Lakers are thin on players who could be reasonably expected to breakout, balancing low-upside reserves with players who have already established a strong baseline (comeback player would be an exciting battle here).

Hill stands to gain the most from the offseason changes, now standing as the team's lone capable center, even though he's primarily been a power forward in his career. The $9 million the Lakers will pay him this season suggested they believe he can improve on last year's career highs of 9.7 points and 7.4 rebounds, and given the lack of depth at the pivot, it's tough to disagree.

More minutes, more production, and Hill showed last year he can sustain and even improve his efficiency in a larger load.

Season Expectations

New head coach Byron Scott and general manager Mitch Kupchak can say all they like about the team's goal being to win a championship, but it's patently ridiculous.

Bryant should be back, it sounds as if Nash is looking comfortable and healthy, and the roster runs a little deeper than it has in the past, but it's tough to make a case that this is even a top-10 team in the Western Conference. Games aren't played on paper and the Laker faithful will believe that Bryant's return is all that's required for contention, but those fans should take a long look at the roster.

A hard-nosed coach and the no-nonsense Bryant will make it such that the Lakers don't roll over, but the goal for the campaign should simply be making the playoffs and solidifying the foundation for 2015.

1 to Follow on Social Media

You already know. As if it were a question, Nick Young is your player to follow on the Lakers, your player to follow for the entire league and the off-court MVP of professional sports. The Clown Prince of Basketball brings it on Twitter and Instagram, with occasional assists from his adorable son, Lil' Swaggy, and his girlfriend, Iggy Azalea.