Looking back at what the Los Angeles Lakers did right and wrong during the 2018 NBA offseason, including the draft and free agency
If the Los Angeles Lakers haven’t had the best offseason in the league, they’ve certainly had the most high-profile.
As soon as LeBron James signed with the team, the expectations for their summer drastically changed. Based on those lofty aspirations, the front office may have fallen short.
Fans and pundits alike were convinced that James wouldn’t head to Hollywood on his own, and that a second superstar must be on their way. Paul George was “guaranteed” to sign with the Lakers ever since he was traded from Indiana, and their was no way they would pass on the chance to trade for Kawhi Leonard.
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Fast forward to now, with George in Oklahoma City and Leonard in Toronto, and it’s easy to see why some might be disappointed with the Lakers’ summer. In reality, all they have done is delay their championship push for one more year.
Every signing they made was to a one-year contract, meaning they will retain their cap flexibility for the summer of 2019. With that in mind, how will these new players fit in Los Angeles this coming season?
James was the lone playmaker on last year’s Cavaliers team, which surely must have worn him down over the course of the season. Rajon Rondo will alleviate some of that pressure, and his competition with Lonzo Ball for a starting berth should bring out the best in both players.
Lance Stephenson must have been signed with the same intent, but his play has always been erratic at best. He’s failed to make an impact for any team other than Indiana, but playing with James may bring out the best in him.
JaVale McGee is a serviceable rim protector and one of the few bodies the Lakers can put at center, and Michael Beasley showed a more well-rounded and mature game in New York last season. All of these additions are wildcards for sure, but there is, at least theoretically, merit in signing each of them.
New draft picks Svi Mykhailiuk and Mo Wagner showed some promising signs during the Summer League. They too could force their way into the rotation over the course of the season, despite a new win-now mentality.
The losses of Julius Randle and Brook Lopez hurt, as the Lakers are still lacking depth in the frontcourt. While Randle acknowledged that he would need to leave to get the contract and role he desired, Lopez signed with the Bucks for one year and just $3.4 million.
Could the Lakers have re-signed him for a similar deal? He would still be their best center, and his ability to space the floor would give James, Rondo and Ball more room to operate in the paint.
The Lakers became the big winners of the offseason the moment they landed James. And while the rest of their haul may feel underwhelming, they made the right decision by not trading for a star like Leonard. They can take next season to evaluate how their young talent fits with James and continues to develop, before looking to free agency for more superstar support.
Their offseason moves should see them return to the playoffs next season, and they will be major players in the summer of 2019. As long as James stays healthy and productive, the Lakers are well set up now and into the future.