Los Angeles Lakers: 5 players with the most to prove in 2017-18

The playoffs? A Rookie of the Year award? With expectations so high, these five Los Angeles Lakers will have plenty to prove throughout the 2017-18 season.

Whether it’s due to the Lonzo Ball hype or the lofty goals set by Magic Johnson, this Los Angeles Lakers team will be under a ton of pressure this season. Fans everywhere are lining up to see what type of damage they can do, which has heaped some overwhelming expectations on this rebuilding squad.

Then again, maybe it’s just blind optimism. Maybe folks are so pumped about the possibility of landing Paul George and LeBron James next offseason that they’ve already marked this team down as a contender. Perhaps the team’s Summer League championship has some people thinking that same success will spill over into the regular season.

Realistically, it’s anyone’s guess why expectations are sky high. Chances are, it’s simply the fact that it’s the Lakers. As one of the most successful franchises in NBA history, it’s almost as if aggressive expectations are a prerequisite.

Well if the Lakers are going to come anywhere near making fans happy in 2017-18, they’re going to need some players to step up. Help from everyone will be appreciated, but several playmakers will be asked to bear more of the burden than others.

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With that in mind, let’s take a look at the five Lakers with the most to prove in 2017-18. For one reason or another, these guys are going to be under a microscope this year. They simply can’t afford to take their eyes off the prize.

5. Ivica Zubac, C

Heading into the offseason, it looked like the 2017-18 campaign was going to be a big one for Ivica Zubac. Then the Lakers traded for Brook Lopez, and the young center’s stock took quite the tumble. It was a discouraging development for Zubac.

It only made it worse when you remembered how promising his rookie season was. In 38 games (11 starts), he averaged 7.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game. Although he was and still is undeniably raw, the physical tools are there. Zubac is still only 20 years old, and has so much more potential just waiting to be unlocked.

Unfortunately for him, this won’t be his opportunity to win the starting job and assert himself as a prominent piece of the Lakers’ lineup. Regardless, the 2017-18 season will give Zubac an opportunity to continue learning while proving he can be a productive option off the bench.

We have to remember that Lopez only has one year left on his deal. The Lakers are preparing for a spending spree during 2018 free agency, which means he likely won’t be re-signed. When he leaves Los Angeles, the Lakers will need to find a new starter center.

Will Zubac have made the necessary progress to get the first crack at the gig? Or will he have struggled as the backup center, forcing the Lakers to look elsewhere for a new starting 5? The answer will depend largely on how he plays this year. That’s why he’s got plenty to prove in 2017-18.

4. Julius Randle, PF

Last season, I would say that Julius Randle had the best performance of the Lakers’ young stars. Although he’s still rather inconsistent and immature at times, the former Kentucky sensation showed impressive progress as a tough, multi-dimensional power forward.

With that being said, I’m not sure Johnson sees him as a prominent piece of the Lakers’ future plan. That doesn’t mean his mind can’t be changed between now and the end of next season.

So that’s exactly what Randle is going to spend the next year doing. In fact, he’s already gotten off to a good start this offseason, taking his training to a new level:

Getting into excellent shape is a great start. However, he needs to be more efficient on offense and get back to dominating the boards. He’s been working at expanding his range, hoping to develop into more of a stretch-4 than an athletic but limited power forward.

The real problem is the fact that he’s going to be a restricted free agent next offseason. He’s shown enough potential to warrant a big contract offer, which could force the Lakers’ hand. If they aren’t willing to match a monster deal, they may be forced to let him walk. Realistically, landing two superstars via free agency while potentially overpaying for Randle could become more expensive than the team would like.

So Randle has something to prove to himself and the Lakers. He’ll also be trying to prove to other teams that he’s worthy of a massive offer sheet.

3. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was the Lakers’ lone big-name free agency addition of 2017. In most cases that player would have plenty to prove in a new environment (especially when making $18 million), but I don’t think that’s quite the case.

Sure, KCP has to prove he deserves that type of money. He also needs to convince fans he can help this Lakers team stay relevant as they head towards a potential turning point in the franchise’s history next offseason. However, in the end, he mainly has to prove to other teams that he’ll be worth an even larger investment next year.

More than likely, this will be Caldwell-Pope’s first and only year in Los Angeles. The Lakers dumped the rest of their cap space into his pocket as a way of keeping fans interested and making this team look like an intriguing landing spot for 2018 free agents. Chances are he won’t be re-signed next offseason, so there’s only so much he needs to prove to Magic and co.

That’s why Caldwell-Pope finds himself at No. 3 on this list. If the Lakers had signed him to a long-term deal, it would be a different story.

You don’t make that much money without carrying some significant expectations. Fans will want to see the best from the elite 3-and-D player throughout the 2017-18 campaign. If he disappoints, you better believe potential suitors will be wary when free agency rolls back around.

2. Brandon Ingram, SF

Brandon Ingram may not be the face of the franchise, but he’s still got endless potential waiting to be tapped. The 2016 second overall selection showed glimpses of greatness as a rookie, but needs to take a major step forward during his sophomore season.

Everyone around the league knows what he has to offer. Here’s this quote from Magic regarding Ingram, via the Los Angeles Daily News’ Mark Medina:

"“Anybody that called us wanted him,” Johnson said. “We said, ‘No thank you.’”"

So what will we see from him this upcoming season? Can he take that next step in his development and start to look like the star Los Angeles drafted him to be? That’s obviously the hope, but there’s also plenty of room for disappointment on the Lakers’ end.

That’s why he finds himself at No. 2 on this list. The expectations are sky high for Ingram, especially after Magic made him the team’s only “untouchable” this offseason. The team is pinning their hopes on his elite abilities, which means he must deliver. Anything less than a breakout year will be a bad look for Ingram.

Sorry, Brandon — I don’t mean to tack on too much pressure. Then again, I believe Magic already beat me to the punch. It’s time you show everyone why you were the No. 2 pick a year ago.

1. Lonzo Ball, PG

Please tell me you saw this one coming.

In Los Angeles, all eyes are on Ball. The prodigal son has arrived in Laker Land, and the front office is building the rookie up to be the next great point guard for this team. More specifically, the UCLA product is being seen as “the new face of the Lakers,” via ESPN’s JA Adande.

His Summer League performance only added fuel to the fire. His debut was rough, but he quickly turned things around. By the time it was all said and done, Ball had led the Lakers to the championship and earned MVP honors along the way. He showed off all of the confidence, killer instincts and elite passing that got him drafted No. 2 overall.

The only lingering question is whether or not Ball can carry that play over into the regular season? If he can, this Lakers team could be a sneaky contender for a playoff spot. If it takes him some time to get acclimated like most rookies, the Lakers may be looking at another bottom-five finish.

Right now, this franchise’s hopes essentially hinge on Ball’s development. Can he show enough as a facilitator and playmaker to convince superstars like George and James to join him in Los Angeles? That’s going to be the story line throughout the regular season, whether we like it or not.

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Based on what I’ve seen, I believe Ball can deliver. He’s only 19 and is already playing like he’s been there and done that. The regular season will be an entirely different beast, but the early signs are promising. Unfortunately for him, it’s not me he needs to prove his worthiness to.