2016-17 NBA Season Preview: Los Angeles Lakers
Welcome to theScore's 2016-17 NBA preview, where you'll find comprehensive coverage of all 30 teams and storylines to watch this season.
Los Angeles Lakers
2015-16
| Record | Pacific | West | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17-65 | 5th | 15th | N/A |
Offseason Roundup
| Additions | Departures |
|---|---|
| Timofey Mozgov (4/$64M) | Kobe Bryant (Retirement) |
| Luol Deng (4/$72M) | Brandon Bass (Clippers) |
| Yi Jianlian (1/$8M) | Roy Hibbert (Hornets) |
| Jose Calderon (Trade) | Robert Sacre (Pelicans) |
| Brandon Ingram (Draft) | Ryan Kelly (Hawks) |
| Ivica Zubac (Draft) | |
| Luke Walton (Coach) |
- Re-signed Jordan Clarkson (4 years/$50M)
- Re-signed Tarik Black (2 years/$12.85M)
- Re-signed Marcelo Huertas (2 years)
Projected Starting 5
- PG D'Angelo Russell
- SG Jordan Clarkson
- SF Luol Deng
- PF Julius Randle
- C Timofey Mozgov
Related: With Kobe retired, 'face of the Lakers' is up for grabs
Player to watch: Brandon Ingram
Four-time scoring champion Kevin Durant said looking at Ingram was like "looking in the mirror." That comparison certainly holds merit when it comes to their physical attributes, as the 19-year-old Duke alumnus is a lanky, long-armed wing just like Durant was when he came out of Texas.
Lakers fans can only pray the two prove to have more in common during Ingram's inaugural season, as Durant took home Rookie of the Year honors in his first year.
It's going to be difficult for Ingram to achieve similar success out of the gate, as he will, in all likelihood, come off the bench and serve as a sixth man of sorts. That will limit what he can do offensively, but it's his best course of action. He won't be tasked with defending elite 3's and 4's, and he'll see more touches leading the second unit than he would running alongside Russell and Clarkson.
Patience will be a virtue for Ingram's evolution. He may not live up to his second overall draft status right away, but once he finds his groove and adds some muscle to his frame, he'll be a difference maker in a situation with no true No. 1 option set in stone.
Season Expectations
Bryant's farewell tour was the perfect distraction from the team's on-court instability, as most of the fan base was more concerned with watching The Black Mamba perform one final time and less with how the other players were faring.
Now, that safety blanket is gone, leaving a roster without any real identity. The task of conjuring one up will be left to new head coach Luke Walton, who has an abundance of budding stars at his disposal to lead the Lakers into a Kobe-less era.
The additions of Mozgov, Calderon, and Deng will provide levelheadedness and leadership to a core group of guys all under the age of 25. Unfortunately, none of the three will help move the needle, so it'll be on Walton to focus on developing his young talent and not take away from their minutes by overplaying so-so veterans not included in any long-term plans.
The rebirth of Lakers basketball will be a slow burn filled with more downs than ups, a fact that will be painfully evident during the upcoming campaign. Avoiding setting a new franchise-low in victories for a third consecutive year is a depressing, yet obtainable goal as the purple and gold continue their rebuild.