Lakerholics

I’ve always believed, if you look hard enough, you can find silver linings in every cloud. Even though the coronavirus pandemic hanging over our world has put that philosophy to its ultimate test, I still believe in silver linings.

Sometimes it takes great tragedy to inspire great change. That’s a theme we’ve seen repeated throughout history, great depressions generating new economic resurgences, deadly world wars leading to long periods of peace. Out of the ashes of this pandemic, I’m hopeful a national political and social renaissance will unite our country to embrace universal healthcare, create prosperity with a new green deal, and inspire us to build a better America.

Even though the suspension of the NBA season threatens to rob the Lakers of a chance to win their seventeenth championship, I still believe there are silver linings to be found in the dark clouds of this coronavirus pandemic. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at a couple potential silver linings we might be able to find in the storm clouds the coronavirus suspension has cast over the Los Angeles Lakers’ current as well as future seasons.

---

Silver Lining 1: Lakers could have better chance to win championship.

While the Lakers appeared to be the favorites to win the NBA championship before the NBA suspended the season, chances are looking good the season will resume and the Lakers could be in an even better position to win it all.

To start with, the recent success shelter-in-place and social distancing have had in controlling the growth of the coronavirus pandemic has dramatically improved odds the NBA will resume rather than cancel the 2019–20 season. Right now, that’s all the Los Angeles Lakers want, a chance to continue their great season and win their seventeenth NBA championship. They were the best team before the suspension and could even be better after the layoff.

The key to the Lakers’ championship hopes is the health of their superstars, especially 35-year old LeBron James who, because of his age and mileage, could clearly benefit from a brief two to three month midseason vacation. No player in the NBA who takes better care of or makes a bigger investment in his body than LeBron James. And unlike most NBA players, he has the dedicated training staff and personal gym to remain in prime game shape.

While LeBron James has missed only three games this season, the Lakers’ other superstar Anthony Davis has missed eight games with a host of minor injuries and dings endured during the sixty-three games the Lakers played. Like James, Davis is one of the few NBA players who has a full-time personal trainer and a full court gym in his home so he can work on his game rather than just conditioning like most players who don’t have access to a gym.

The playoffs are a tough second season that could last twenty-eight games. Going into the playoffs with a healthy and rested James and Davis could be a huge difference maker that could give the Lakers a dominant advantage. While the Lakers were playing at their peak before the suspension, James and Davis could be an even more formidable superstar duo after getting a couple of months rest before embarking on the grueling playoff schedule.

Then there’s the rest of the Lakers’ veteran roster, many of whom are also nursing or trying to recover from nagging injuries, including Avery Bradley, Danny Green, Kyle Kuzma, Rajon Rondo, JaVale McGee, and Alex Caruso. Having them healthy and rested could be the key to the Lakers’ playoff run. Just as important could be giving recently signed free agent Dion Waiters time to get in game shape to be the Lakers’ wild card once play resumes.

While the last thing the Lakers would have wanted was a delay right after dominating the Bucks and Clippers, the opportunity to get everybody fully healthy and rested could improve their chances of winning a championship.

---

Silver Lining 2: Lakers’ long-term prospects could be even better.

The likely changes facing the NBA as a result of the coronavirus pandemic could actually improve the Lakers’ prospects to improve their roster next season and beyond and increase their chances of winning championships.

The biggest factor impacting the Lakers’ future prospects is the projected drop in the salary cap the next couple of seasons, which is likely to dry up free agent markets and motivate most players to stay with current teams. Specifically, that eliminates the slim possibility Davis exercises his option and leaves the Lakers in free agency end of this season. As an eight year vet, he probably signs a two-year deal with LA to become supermax eligible.

The Lakers also have four role players who have options to become free agents this offseason, including three who possessed de facto no-trade clauses that limited the Lakers’ ability to pull off a major trade this winter. With the limited free agent market, there’s a good chance Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Avery Bradley, JaVale McGee, and Rajon Rondo will all opt to decline their player options and remain with the Lakers for next season.

Winning the 2019–20 championship, locking up Anthony Davis for the next two years, and having most of their free agents decline their player options should put the Lakers in an enviable position heading into the offseason. They’ll have Kyle Kuzma, their 2020 first round draft pick, and over $20 million in expiring contracts as trading chips to go after a second playmaker and third scorer to complement LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Since the Lakers will be over the cap at the end of the season, they will also have their full MLE or Mid-Level Exception worth over $9 million to use to help fill some of the holes in the roster they were unable to fill last winter. The result is the Lakers should have the ability via free agency or trade to make major upgrades to their roster that should make them an even stronger team than the one favored to win the championship this season.

Looking even further down the road, the big question remaining is how the reduced salary cap over the next couple of years is going to affect superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo’s decision to remain with the Milwaukee Bucks. The lower salary cap is likely to make it even more difficult for the Lakers to create the cap space to pursue Antetokounmpo as well make it more likely Giannis decides to sign a supermax extension to stay with the Bucks.

In a way, that could be a blessing in disguise as it could force the Lakers to focus on improving their supporting cast behind LeBron and AD rather than once again futilely pursuing and failing to land that elusive third superstar.

---

As I said at the start of this article, sometimes it takes adversity to unleash greatness. The coronavirus pandemic and the resultant suspension of the 2019–20 NBA season clearly portend a brand new normal for the league. While the games are likely to resume, there is no doubt it will be without live fans in the stands but sometimes people don’t know what they will miss until they actually find themselves in a situation where they lose something.

As basketball junkies, we became complacent and took the game and how important it was for our lives for granted. Being finally able to watch games again will be something I think we as fans are going to greatly appreciate. Being able to play games again is something I think NBA players are also going to greatly appreciate. I wouldn’t be surprised if the 2019–20 NBA playoffs are one one of the greatest playoffs in the history of the game.

I also think LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the entire Los Angeles Lakers team is going to be so appreciative of the opportunity to finish the season that we’re going to see them win their seventeenth NBA championship.

---

The Los Angeles Lakers’ top priority for next season is a proven point guard who can fill their need for a second playmaker to backup LeBron James and a third shotmaker to complement the scoring of James and Davis.

There have been numerous veteran point guards discussed as potential solutions for the Lakers, including Goran Dragic, Derrick Rose, Mike Conley, Jeff Teague, and Darren Collison, but these are all short-term solutions. Frankly, with Kyle Kuzma and their 2020 first round draft pick as their only viable trading chips, the Lakers would be smart to focus on acquiring a proven younger point guard who could grow and develop with the team.

With the Lakers in a win-now situation, they need a point guard who’s shown he can create shots for himself and teammates, which eliminates drafting a college player or opting for a young inexperienced point guard. With the China controversy and coronavirus pandemic reducing the salary cap and causing players to decline player options, the Lakers will also not be likely to fill their needs for a proven young point guard in free agency.

That leaves trading as the only option for the Lakers to acquire a qualified point guard. Between Kyle Kuzma, their 2020 first round draft pick, and $20 million in expiring contracts, they have more trade assets than last year. While that wouldn’t be enough to trade for an elite point guard like Damian Lillard or Jrue Holiday, it should be enough to find a young point guard who’s played a few years to prove his worth but still has untapped upside.

Ideally, the Lakers should target a point guard no older than twenty-six, who earns less than $20 million per year, averages at least 12.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game, and shoots better than 38% from deep. When you search NBA.com stats for players who fit these criteria, the search comes up with just four candidates: the Pelicans’ Lonzo Ball, Raptors’ Fred VanVleet, Hornets’ Terry Rozier, and Thunder’s Dennis Schroeder.

So let’s take a closer look at each of these four candidates to see how they would fit on the current Lakers’ roster, why their current team might be willing to trade them, and what the Lakers could offer to complete a trade:

1. Lonzo Ball

The Lakers trading to get Lonzo Ball back is a long shot but he would be an excellent fit for the Lakers roster, especially since he is younger, would cost less, and is a better playmaker and rebounder than the other candidates. While Lonzo’s improved his three-point shooting, he’s still a poor pick-and-roll facilitator and atrocious free throw shooter. With Jrue Holiday on the roster and Brandon Ingram in line to get paid, Lonzo could be expendable.

The Pelicans originally tried to get the Lakers to include Kyle Kuzma in the Anthony Davis trade so a package of Kyle Kuzma, JaVale McGee, and Quinn Cook could be tempting enough for the Pelicans to agree to trade Lonzo. While Ball would need to improve his pick-and-roll playmaking and free throw shooting, the trade could give the Lakers a 22-year old who could belatedly become the two-way star they envisioned when drafting him.

2. Fred VanVleet

Fred VanVleet would be a perfect fit on the Lakers and would fill their need for a second elite playmaker and third clutch shotmaker who’s proven his championship caliber ability and leadership at the highest possible level. With Lowry still playing at an elite level, Siakam in line for a big payday, and the team hoarding salary cap to pursue Giannis the summer of 2021, the Raptors may be unwilling to give Fred VanVleet the big raise he deserves.

The Lakers would likely need to give VanVleet $20 million per year and offer the Raptors a sign-and-trade package involving Kyle Kuzma, Danny Green, and Quinn Cook, plus their first round pick to trade for Fred. However, the 26-year old VanVleet would give the Lakers the playmaker they need when LeBron is not on the court and the proven third shotmaker they need to complement superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

3. Terry Rozier

Acquired by the Hornets in a sign-and-trade deal for Kemba Walker last summer, Terry Rozier is another talented young point guard who could fill the Lakers’ need for a proven second playmaker and consistent third scorer. With the Hornets in flux and rookie Devonte’ Graham taking over Kemba Walker’s starting point guard role, the 26-year old Rozier’s name continues to come up in trade rumors and he may not be in Charlotte’s future plans.

More of a shoot-first point guard who needs the ball in his hands to be effective, a package built around Kyle Kuzma, Danny Green, and Quinn Cook could be enough to convince the Hornets to trade Rozier to the Lakers. While he would not get the touches and shots he did with the Hornets, Terry has more elite offensive ability and upside to develop into a top tier NBA scorer than any of the four candidates and could be a great fit on the Lakers.

4. Dennis Schroeder

Of all four candidates, Dennis Schroeder may be the best option for the Lakers for an talented young point guard who could fill their playmaking and scoring requirements and be acquired via trade with available assets. With veteran point guard Chris Paul starting and star shooting guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander capable of playing the point, Schroeder could be available for trade and be the perfect target for the Lakers to pursue.

The Lakers would likely need to offer a package that includes Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Quinn Cook, plus their first round draft pick to interest the Thunder in trading point guard Dennis Schroeder to them. Just 26-years old, Schroeder could be the perfect point guard for the Lakers as he could run the offense when LeBron sits and become the consistent 20-points per game scorer to complement LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

---

While nobody knows yet if the season will be resumed or cancelled or if the Lakers will get the chance to win their seventeenth championship, they’ll still have an excellent opportunity to be an even better team next season. Trading for a talented young point guard like Lonzo Ball, Fred VanVleet, Terry Rozier, or Dennis Schroeder would make the Los Angeles Lakers even more formidable and should be their number one goal this offseason.