The start of the 2017-18 NBA season may be two months away, but it’s never too early to power rank the Los Angeles Lakers’ top players with training camp just around the corner.
In just over two months, the Los Angeles Lakers will tip off what’s sure to be an exciting 2017-18 campaign. Although most of the potential excitement lies ahead during 2018 free agency, there’s plenty to look forward to between now and April (or maybe May?).
As luck would have it, the Lakers made some upgrades this offseason. Between the addition of a certain rising star at point guard and a blockbuster (sort of) trade for a prominent big man, Magic Johnson, Rob Pelinka and the rest of the Los Angeles front office have been hard at work. The only question at this point is whether or not it will lead to a significant spike in wins?
My gut tells me yes. In the end, though, my gut isn’t the one determining what happens on a nightly basis. That’s up to this Lakers lineup to figure out. Based on what we’ve seen and know, this should be a better year for the purple and gold.
Unfortunately, all we can do right now is wait for the regular season to roll around. Instead of moping around twiddling our thumbs, it seems appropriate to power rank the Lakers’ top five players at this moment. Let me be clear — this isn’t a ranking of their best players, but rather a ranking of the players with the most momentum right now.
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With that all cleared up, let’s take a look at my Lakers player power rankings heading into the second half of August.
5. Kyle Kuzma, SF
Right now, Kyle Kuzma is riding a huge wave of momentum from NBA Summer League. That’s not to say that it’s going to last long once the regular season rolls around, but what he showed during his first taste of NBA action has people thinking the Lakers got a serious steal.
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It’s not often we see that type of sharpshooting and scoring potential from a late first round pick, even during Summer League. Still, Kuzma bucked the trend and turned in a stellar performance, lighting it up in the points department.
His chemistry with Lonzo Ball was even more impressive. The two were on the same page from the moment Summer League tipped off. Even when Ball missed the championship game due to injury, Kuzma stepped up in his absence and carried the Lakers to a hard-fought and well-earned title, earning MVP honors for the game.
That’s why we find him here at No. 5, even if he probably isn’t the fifth-most talented player on the roster right now. After all, that is the point of power rankings, right?
It’s very early in the process. For all we know, Kuzma could fizzle out during training camp or the regular season and have a rookie season to forget. Still, at this point in time, all we know is what we saw during Summer League. If that’s a sign of things to come, then the Lakers could have the biggest steal of the 2017 draft class on their hands.
4. Brandon Ingram, SF
Is Brandon Ingram the fourth-most talented player on this roster? Probably not. More than likely, he has the potential to be the biggest star the Lakers have seen since Kobe Bryant. As you probably know, though, he hasn’t quite realized that potential yet.
As a matter of fact, his 2016-17 rookie season was rather underwhelming. Although he gave us brief glimpses of the stardom that made him the No. 2 overall pick, his first year in the NBA was largely characterized by inconsistency and inefficiency. The Lakers are crossing their fingers and toes in hopes that story will change this upcoming season.
If I had to guess, I’d say it will.
Ingram undoubtedly has the physical tools to be a superstar in Los Angeles. We occasionally saw spurts of stardom from the youngster last season. If anything, we should see the frequency of said spurts increase significantly during his sophomore campaign.
Still, he finds himself at No. 4 because of that uncertainty. The potential is there. Unfortunately, that’s all it is at this point — potential. Until he starts showing up on a nightly basis, Ingram will have the Lakers eagerly awaiting his ascension. That patience is only going to last so long before it grows thin.
Here’s to hoping Ingram can break out this season — for both the Lakers’ sake and his own.
3. Brook Lopez, C
Despite his standing as the highest paid Laker and possibly the most talented, Brook Lopez finds himself at No. 3. While it may seem like a slight to the outstanding big man, I have my reasons for slotting him here.
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First and foremost, Lopez came to Los Angeles in a controversial trade that many fans weren’t, well, fans of. The move sent D’Angelo Russell, seen by some as the new franchise player, to the Brooklyn Nets. Although it eventually landed Kuzma with the Lakers and got rid of Timofey Mozgov‘s contract, the trade’s inclusion of Russell received plenty of criticism.
Second, I don’t think that he’s exactly what the Lakers needed at center. Sure, Lopez is a tremendous talent who brings plenty of value on the offensive end. On the other hand, his defense is average at best and he’s not the rim protector the team needs. Considering how awful the Lakers’ defense was in 2016-17, he’s not exactly a perfect fit.
So while I believe Lopez was a terrific addition to this lineup, he wasn’t a home run. That is, unless you consider the fact that bringing him to Los Angeles puts Magic in a much better position to make a splash during 2018 free agency.
Regardless, Lopez should do plenty of damage in 2017-18. If he can replicate the numbers he put up for the Nets last year, he’ll be one of the top pieces of this Lakers lineup throughout the season.
2. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG
Right now, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has nearly 18 million reasons to be near the top of this list. If it wasn’t for a certain uber-hyped rookie, the Lakers’ $18 million man would easily be No. 1. However, the No. 2 spot still comes with significant expectations.
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Especially with that price tag, Los Angeles faithful will be looking for a huge season from Caldwell-Pope. Even if the deal is only for one year, you don’t command that type of paycheck in the NBA without being judged early and often. So you can imagine that criticism will come quickly if he struggles in 2017-18.
For now, though, let’s work under the assumption that that isn’t an option. The Lakers brought Caldwell-Pope in to be a star, and that’s what they’re going to get. He’s the defensive stalwart that they desperately needed, and he should serve as a reliable outside shooter for Ball to kick it out to.
We also have to keep in mind that Caldwell-Pope is playing for another payday in 2018. He got paid by the Lakers, but that money runs out when the season is over. It’ll be imperative for him to shine bright, convincing other teams that he’s worth signing to a long-term deal next offseason.
If he plays well, it could even open the door for him to return to Los Angeles under the right circumstances.
Either way, look for Caldwell-Pope to play a prominent role in determining the Lakers’ fate this season. His effectiveness as a shooter and defender will determine if this team quiets critics or turns the slew of underwhelming predictions into reality.
1. Lonzo Ball, PG
Is there any reason to not have Lonzo Ball at No. 1 right now? I didn’t think so.
The new face of the franchise put on a show during Summer League, earning MVP honors and leading his squad all the way to the championship game. He flashed superstar potential, using his transcendent passing abilities and clutch play to come up big time and time again.
There will obviously be a ton of expectations heaped on Ball’s shoulders during his rookie season. Based on what we saw during Summer League, though, I’m sure he’s more than up to the task. The Lakers will be looking for him to take the reins and drive this team in a better direction in 2017-18, and I believe he’s up to the task.
Realistically, until he proves he’s incapable of doing so, Ball will be counted on to be the star of the show in Los Angeles. Sure, he’s got plenty of capable teammates who can bear some of the burden. Still, Magic didn’t make him the No. 2 pick and confirm him as the franchise’s future without some lofty goals already in mind.
Ball is going to have to prove he can be the go-to guy this season. Even if the plan is to bring two superstars to Los Angeles next year, doing so will be much easier if they know they have an elite facilitator to feed them the rock.
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Training camp hasn’t even started yet, and all of the pressure is on Ball to carry this team. Luckily for him, his arrow is pointing in an unmistakably upward direction. Hence, his position atop the Lakers player power rankings in mid-August.