Los Angeles Lakers: The Baby Lakers Are Rounding Into Form

The Los Angeles Lakers may not win many games this season, but their young core is really rounding into form

After signing a two-year, $48 million dollar contract in 2014, the 38-year-old Kobe Bryant made it hard for the Los Angeles Lakers to be a legitimate playoff threat.

Not to take away anything from a top 10 player the NBA has ever seen, but this was not the No. 8 Kobe that could through-the-legs dunk from just inside the free throw line. This was not the mini-afro Kobe that would physically dominate any young player with his speed, quickness, and footwork combinations.

Giving an out-of-prime Kobe Bryant $48 million guaranteed dollars made it hard for the Lakers to sign any kind of supporting cast that he needed. As epic as Kobe was in his career in Los Angeles, him finally leaving the spotlight in LA was a blessing in disguise.

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The 2016-17 season is the Baby Lakers introduction to the world. D’Angelo Russell is the leader of this young core of guys. He was recently quoted in an interview with Sam Alipour saying, “We’re all about playing together now. It’s not about one guy anymore. It’s about sacrificing for the team.”

Having gone through his rookie year, during Kobe’s farewell tour, DLoading also admitted he learned a ton from Kobe.

If he can take bits and pieces from Kobe’s mentality and add it to his already impressive skill set, there is no ceiling for his potential running the point for years to come in LA. He’s off to a promising start averaging 16-4-4, but look for those numbers to only go up from here.

Another huge chunk of the potential growth in LA is the young tandem of Jordan Clarkson and rookie Brandon Ingram. Having moved strictly to the shooting guard position, Jordan Clarkson already looks like hes finding his true identity as a scoring off ball guard.

In the season opener, he dropped 25 points off the bench. Luke Walton having him come off the bench and be a spark plug is a smart move to me and maybe humbled Jordan a bit.

Third overall pick in this years draft Brandon Ingram is oozing with talent and potential. He leaves a trail of it behind him everywhere he goes its disgusting. His 6-foot-9, 190 pound frame will be a point of emphasis for trainers his first couple years in the league, but no one can deny his perimeter length and natural scoring ability.

He is also coming off the bench early this year, and being mentored by an underrated Luol Deng, a fellow Blue Devil. Brandon is averaging almost seven points and three boards thus far, but keep in mind the kid is still two years away from legally drinking a beer. I can see those numbers tripling as he gets older and develops into a legitimate perimeter scoring machine.

As epic as Kobe was in his career in Los Angeles, him finally leaving the spotlight in LA was a blessing in disguise

Rounding out the big (little) four is athletic power forward Julius Randle. Already averaging 15 points and 7 boards, Randle is a high motor, trash talking, physical forward. He’s always had a physical style of play down low, dating back to his Kentucky days.

As he continues to develop his mid-range jumper and slashing ability, I see Julius as a Draymond Green type. Someone who can trail a fastbreak and make plays from the top of the key with his passing, or can take you off the dribble and finish at the rim. He’s not there yet, but that’s the beauty of the Baby Lakers. Everything is a work in progress from the coaching staff, to the development of players.

Just three regular season games in new head coach Luke Walton already seems to relate to this young group of guys. Coming from Golden State as an assistant coach, hes brought a lot of that same laid back, no pressure style to LA and it is noticeable. Players are loose and having fun which is huge for the newer generation style of players.

With this new culture in Laker land, things are looking up. Mitch Kupchak, a proven GM has more cap space and money available to reel in big name free agents in offseasons to come. Not to mention LA could almost sell itself as a destination for potential free agents to sign and live the Los Angeles life style.

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Stealing Clarkson in the second round of the 2014 draft, and taking D’Angelo second overall last year, are examples that Mr. Kupchak knows what hes doing come draft time.

Apply that with these young star potential players developing overtime and the Los Angeles Lakers are a handful of years away from being a Western Conference powerhouse like old times.