The Los Angeles Lakers have some terrific young building blocks to work with. Which ones offer the most long-term value for this franchise’s rapid rebuild?
Right now, you can’t watch a Los Angeles Lakers game without their long-term potential being mentioned. It’s “young talent” this and “huge upside” that. Having three straight No. 2 picks obviously helps when it comes to adding exciting young players, even if one has already been traded.
With that in mind, I wanted to turn my attention to these building blocks. More specifically, I want to highlight the most valuable ones, especially with an eye on this team’s potential evolution next season after Magic Johnson‘s impending free agency spending spree.
There’s plenty of intrigue throughout this Lakers roster. On top of the numerous top-10 picks, the roster as a whole is extremely young — only four of 15 players on the current roster are older than 25. However, as with any NBA team, there are those few prospects who offer more long-term value than the rest.
Luckily for the Lakers, there’s plenty of this huge upside in the building. Again, I return to my original question of who are the top guys?
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Let’s take a look at the Lakers’ three most valuable building blocks currently on the roster. There’s plenty to look forward to for this franchise, and the continued development of these players will be imperative to this team returning to relevance in the near future.
3. Kyle Kuzma
I honestly considered three different players for this spot on the list.
One consideration was Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who’s been terrific so far with the Lakers. The one year remaining on his contract and possibility of him not being re-signed took him out of the running. Jordan Clarkson was also considered, but I wouldn’t put it past Magic to trade him without a second thought if the right deal came across his desk.
That led me to Kyle Kuzma, the Lakers’ rookie who’s made waves despite his relatively unspectacular draft status. It’s still very early in his NBA career, but the future appears very bright for the Utah alum.
He’s only a month into his NBA career, and Kuzma has already asserted himself as an offensive force. He quickly earned the trust of the Lakers coaching staff, assuming a key role off the bench right out of the gate before stepping in as a starter for the injured Larry Nance Jr. When the game is on the line, you can often find Kuzma taking the tough shots without an ounce of hesitation.
The best part is that he’s only going to get better. The building blocks are there for Kuzma to be a star on the offensive end as well as a reliable defender. He’s still got some work to do when it comes to keeping opponents in check, but he’s made some smart plays and has the athleticism to develop into a plus defender.
This Lakers team may be young, but it’s overflowing with talent. If Kuzma’s early showing is a sign of things to come, there’s plenty for this franchise to be excited about.
2. Lonzo Ball
I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but Lonzo Ball is not No. 1 on this list. As great as he can be, I don’t know if he’s got the truly elite potential that the Lakers’ top-ranked building block possesses. Still, there’s no denying that the 2017 No. 2 overall pick can a dynamic talent if he hits his ceiling.
Right now, I’m just concerned about his ability to be an all-around threat. Sure, he’s got the passing down — albeit with more turnovers than you’d like to see. He even rebounds too well for a point guard. It’s the scoring/shooting that suggests he won’t develop into the superstar many assume he’s capable of becoming.
Before you lose your mind, let me say that I understand he’s just a rookie. Ball is going to get better, especially as he continues to adjust to the speed, athleticism and size of the NBA. Some work on that release would probably help, too. Either way, I would imagine he’ll be twice the player he is now in a year or two.
Still, I have to go with my gut here and say that Ball isn’t the most potential-laden talent on this roster. The upside is undeniable, but we’re starting to see some of the flaws in his game. They’re fixable for sure, but he’s got quite a ways to go to earn that draft status of his.
Call me a hater if you want — I call it being realistic. Ball hasn’t lived up to the hype so far, and the Lakers are finally realizing he needs more time. Evidence: Ball has sat the entire fourth quarter in Los Angeles’ last two games.
1. Brandon Ingram
I’ll admit it — I was extremely skeptical of Brandon Ingram’s worthiness of the “untouchable” designation he received this past offseason. However, based on what we’ve seen through the early part of the 2017-18 campaign, the future is blindingly bright for the 2016 No. 2 overall pick.
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Although he’s not leading the team in scoring, Ingram has been the team’s go-to offensive threat this season. When they need a big bucket to turn the tide, the former Duke star uses his length, athleticism and instincts to put points on the board. It’s still a work in progress, but Ingram has shown rapid improvement during the first month of the season.
What I like about Ingram is that he’s more of the whole package than Ball. Not only can he score at will, but he’s an outstanding rebounder and plus defender who often wins with effort and awareness. His game has its flaws as well, but I think there are less gaps overall.
More importantly, I think he has more untapped potential in the most important aspect of basketball — scoring. Ingram simply has a natural feel for putting the ball in the hoop. Whether he’s driving to the rim or sinking a mid-range dagger, the 20-year-old forward shows an uncanny ability to score.
I know it’s only one piece of the puzzle, but that’s the skill that makes stars. Despite his ridiculous defense, you don’t hear Patrick Beverely being talked about as a superstar.
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The sky truly is the limit for Ingram, who many believe could develop into a Kevin Durant-type of talent in due time. I don’t know if that’s what the future holds for him, but the Lakers will be very happy with their investment if he comes anywhere close to the 2013-14 MVP.