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The 3 Year Journey
The 3 Year
Journey
Three years ago, and what now seems like a lifetime, GM Justin
stepped into the reigns at the helm of the Lakers organization. At the time, there was grandiose word speak
of dreams that no one inside of the previous Lakers regime would utter. Words like success, winning basketball,
culture, and most of all, championships.
One of the greatest sporting organizations in the world had wilted away
from its once glorious stature, hopelessly waiting for a savior to come right
the ship. The jury is still out on whether
this team has been �saved� but there sure is a lot of hype surrounding the
Laker�s heading into GM Justin�s 3rd season at the helm. Let�s look back on the road here.
Year 1:
C: Jalen Smith / Damian Jones (FA)
That was the roster inherited by GM
Justin 3 seasons ago. He had taken over
the team just prior to the NSL draft lottery and was ecstatic to have the rights
to drafting Cade Cunningham. Outside of
Cade, the team was seriously devoid of talent, best highlighted by the fact
that only 5 of the players on this roster currently play rotational minutes for
NBA teams. The team was coming off a
12-70 season, and GM Justin knew the team and city desperately needed a spark,
but he also knew winning would take time.
GM Justin cautioned about the rough sea�s ahead, letting fans know that
they would be losing, but building towards something greater in the
future.
Year 2:
SF
� Oshae Brissett
With 1 full year of work under his
belt, GM Justin quickly(no pun intended) transformed the team from the league�s
doormat, to a respectable middle of the road team. GM Justin did not do so conventionally, as he
wound up shipping two top 15 draft picks out in order to bring in talent who could
help contribute to winning basketball early.
GM Justin was heavily rewarded with his moves, as both Juluis Randle and
Kristaps Porzingis elevated their game shortly after coming over, and Immanuel Quickley
established himself as a young building block.
Year 2 openned up with a lot of hype surrounding this team, and the team
responded by opening the season to the tune of 4-0, good for 1st in
the Western Conference. Shortly thereafter,
Cade Cunningham was announced to be done for the year, and the Laker�s once
again looked forward. The team would go
on to finish the season at 16-66, after the Lakers traded Randle and Porzingis
for returns that would better position the team for the future. One of those trades was to bring in a new
young centerpiece in Jalen Green that was poised to combine with Cade
Cunningham as one of the better young backcourts around the league. Though that combination would not last very
long.
Year 3:
C: Andre Drummond/ Nick Richards
PF: Kevin Durant/ Danilo Gallinari
SF: Cade Cunningham / Caleb Martin/ David Roddy
PG: Immanuel Quickley / Blake Wesley
Yet again, we see the beginning of a season
surrounded in hype. The Laker�s have
once again used an off-season transformation to heighten their ability to
compete with the league�s best. Last
year, GM Justin was able to bring in some guys who were stars but had another
level of their game to reach. This
off-season, GM Justin brought in 3 of the NSL�s best, at their respective positions,
in KD, Donovan Mitchell, and Andre Drummond.
The Laker�s now boast a starting 5 with 4 of the leagues top 40 players,
to go along with some great role players.
Immanuel Quickley has been great this pre-season, averaging 18.8 points
and 8.5 assists, shooting 54% from 3. Caleb
Martin and Danilo Gallinari provide timely wing shooting, and Nic Richards will
serve as one of the league�s better backup centers. This team still has holes. They could use another guard or two and some reserve
players to fill in, in the event of injuries, but the frame is there for the
Laker�s to be a competitor in the NSL this year. The Laker�s final NSL preseason game should
be an indicator of what is to come. The
team�s newly minted best player, Kevin Durant, went for a quiet 20 points, on
7/12 shooting, 2/3 from deep. Every
Laker�s starter shot 45% or better from the floor, each scoring at least 15
points. The bench added 34 points
outscoring the Blazers bench 2-1. This
team is well balanced and will be a nightmare matchup for opposing defenses all
season. We are sure glad to see meaningful
basketball back in LA.
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