LAL moving forward

With the number two pick on the 2016 NBA Draft, the LA Lakers assured themselves of a lanky offensive threat to fill Kobe Bryant’s vacancy.  Professing his love to the franchise and Kobe, Brandon Ingram promised to work very hard to be the best player he can be.

The Lakers were being to pick the Duke University standout and LA made it official last week.  Ingram, a small forward, played just a single season for the Blue Devils averaging 17.3 points, 6.8 assists, a steal and a block which earned him the ACC Rookie of the Year honors.

He will take the 3-spot, the position held by Kobe, alongside Julius Randle and the explosive backcourt combo of Jordan Clarkson and D’Angelo Russell.  An area of concern will his body because at 6-9, he only weighs 195 pounds.  With a wingspan of 7-3, the extra-long limbs affords him to harass passers and block shots.  Some people compare his smooth shooting touch to that of Kevin Durant.

GM Mitch Kupchak should find vindication on this pick.  He was much criticised last year for picking Russell.  This time, Ingram created much interest that according to Kupchak, several teams had called the Lakers on the possibility of trading their second pick.  So impressed was he with Ingram that Kupchak said, “If I had to pick one thing, it would be potential.  Right now there is no ceiling on him.”

Prior to the Draft, Ingram was treated to dinner on the night of his workout with the team.  He was with Clarkson, Russell, Randle, Larry Nance, Jr., Anthony Brown and some Laker staff.  Some early bonding moments and team blending for him.

The team’s next pick at number 32 is a 7-1, 265 pound Croatian who goes by the name of Ivica Zubac.  Google don’t say much on the player but there are several articles on a similarly named film director.  Zubac, the player, grew up a big Laker and Kobe fan and likens his play to that of another European Marc Gasol.  With KB’s last game starting at 4am in Croatia, he stayed up all night and cried when Kobe scored 60 points.

Wanting so much to be a part of the Lakers, he prayed that he won’t be drafted late in the first round because he wanted to be available when LAL pick at 32.  Kupchak and the rest of the Laker Nation should admire and love the big Croat as only players drafted in the first round receive guaranteed contracts.

With over $60 million to burn, LAL will be busy shopping when free agency starts this Saturday.  They need the center position to be filled up and free agents centers like Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Bismack Biyombo and Hassan Whitside are potential targets that can start at 5 for the Lakers.

LA’s free agents Brandon Bass and Tarik Black, in my opinion, should return for some veteran guidance for the young guys to keep them focused and show them the ways of professionals.  They don’t a superstar for the moment.  What they have now is young talent at every position which the team can build onwards.

The post-Kobe rebuilding process has begun and a new Laker era is taking shape.If Black stays, he could probably start at center with Randle and Ingram up front and Clarkson and Russell at the backcourt. 

For sure, the team will improve from a dismal 2015-2016 season.  Depending on who the team acquires in free agency, the Lakers just might have a deep playoff run.