The Lakers fired Byron Scott and quickly hired Luke Walton to be their next head coach. Walton will be bringing in his team of coaches now and it looks like at least one of them will be other fellow ex-Laker Brian Shaw. Names like Frank Vogel and J.B. Bickerstaff have been thrown around as well. Personally I think the Lakers waited too long to let Scott go because they lost out on Tom Thibodeau, who went to coach the Timberwolves and Scott Brooks, who went to coach the Wizards. One of those two would have been great fits for the Lakers. But that is a whole different story, and I’m veering off topic now. Walton is at the helms now. and hopefully his youth and his connections to the players can bring some free agents to Lakerland.
Previewing The Lakers Off-Season
A lot of names have been in the rumor mill getting linked to the Lakers. We’ve heard big names like Kevin Durant and DeMar DeRozan as targets for the Lakers, and Magic Johnson was even using social media to try and possibly lure LeBron James. So the question is: what players are an actual possibility for the Lakers to land? Well, the possibility of landing LeBron James and Kevin Durant is about as good as the chances of getting struck by lightning. Both players are likely staying put. As for DeRozan, it is likely he will be in purple & gold next season. He is said to be very much interested in joining the Lakers next season, and he is a Compton, California native, so it would be a homecoming for him.
Another name you might be able to see in a Laker uniform next season is Hassan Whiteside. He will be a free agent at the end of the season, and after the monster numbers he put up, he’ll be looking to get paid. The Lakers can offer him a max contract with all the cap space they have readily available. The Lakers might also be able to pluck a few Warriors as well since Walton has strong ties to all of the players over there. The Lakers are said to be pursuing Harrison Barnes and Festus Ezeli. Don’t be surprised if Walton is able to bring one of them if not both over from Oakland.
Finally, there are some trade rumors floating around. The Lakers are apparently shopping around their pick (if they can keep it.) Two names that popped up are Paul George and Jimmy Butler. Now I haven’t heard that the Pacers are actually shopping George, so it doesn’t seem likely that this happens. But Butler has been linked to trade rumors for a little while now, and if the Lakers can put a package together involving draft picks and possibly D’Angelo Russell, then this is something that can happen.
Laker fans imagine a starting five of Hassan Whiteside at center, Julius Randle and Jimmy Butler at the forward positions, and Jordan Clarkson and DeMar DeRozan at the guards with Harrison Barnes being the sixth man off the bench. This would easily make the Lakers contenders again. Now this is a best case scenario and is wishful thinking, but I think Walton and the Lakers brass just might be able to bring some quality players to LA this season. Things could be looking up for the Lakers this coming season.
