Los Angeles Lakers: Areas They Need To Address In the Offseason
Kobe Bryant (24) and Dwight Howard (12) finally had the sort of game the pundits predicted for them in the preseason when they combined to lead a furious comeback on Wednesday, March 6, in New Orleans. The Los Angeles Lakers, after trailing the New Orleans Hornets by 25 points in the first half, closed the game on a 20-0 run to beat the Hornets 108-102. (Photo by Scott Mecum/Flickr.com)
If the Los Angeles Lakers miss the postseason, it’s going to be a long, long offseason in Los Angeles. For a team that added multiple stars to its roster this past summer, expectations were extremely high. Failing to meet those expectations would be unacceptable to Lakers fans.
Regardless of whether Los Angeles makes the playoffs, the Lakers have weaknesses to address this summer. For one, they would be wise to re-sign Dwight Howard, which will drive their payroll above the $100 million mark, which would equate to more luxury-tax dues.
So, believe it or not, the Lakers will have to be somewhat economical. Not frugal, but wise.
Let’s take a look at some of those areas they need to address, economically:
3-Point Shooting
The Lakers have scorers, like Kobe Bryant, who is decent 3-point shooter. They don’t have any consistent 3-point specialists, though, and their team 35.6 percent 3-point shooting mark reflects that.
Truth be told, some guys that usually shoot the ball well have underachieved.
Steve Nash, for example, was thought to be LA’s dangerous 3-point threat when he was acquired during the summer. But his shot hasn’t been much of a factor. Perhaps injuries or age have hindered his stroke, but the reality is, he is not as dangerous as he once was from beyond the arc.
Nash is taking just 2.6 3-point attempts per game (fourth-least amount of attempts per game in his 16-year career) on 43.8 percent shooting, which isn’t too bad without context. With context (only 2.6 attempts), though, it’s hardly worth praise.
Cut Nash some slack, though. Playing alongside Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol isn’t conducive to more shot attempts. It’s only inevitable that three stars would nibble away at Nash’s looks and it has.
Jodie Meeks is another Laker who’s limboed under expectations, shooting just a shade better than 36 percent from downtown. He’s someone that I connect with the term “3-point specialist.” The stats wouldn’t bear that out, however.
So, one or two 3-point specialists would greatly improve the Lakers’ offense. We’re not talking about hybrid shooters like J.J. Redick or Ray Allen, who cost more. We’re simply talking about those dime-a-dozen shooters that do nothing but spot up from beyond the arc.
Potential Additions: Randy Foye, Anthony Morrow, Daniel Gibson, Kyle Korver
A Lock Down Perimeter Defender
The ongoing saga of the Lakers’ atrocious defense must be fixed this offseason. The Lakers own the 19th-worst defensive rating in the NBA and in this particular case, the stats don’t lie: They need to get younger on the perimeter because their current corps is mostly declining veterans who can’t keep up with the youngsters.
Among the declining veterans, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Metta World Peace and Steve Nash headline the group. All four sport defensive ratings of at least 106. While defensive rating doesn’t paint a perfect picture, it gives us a basis to work from. Generally, anything below 102 is above average and anything below 100 is excellent. So yes, they’re a bit off the mark.
It might be a surprise to see World Peace with a below-average defensive rating. Traditionally, World Peace has been a solid defender, capable of taking the other team’s star. He still assumes that role at times, but he’s certainly taken a few steps back. Same goes for Pau Gasol, and especially Nash–he’s never been much of a defender.
Dwight Howard, meanwhile, isn’t at the declining stage, per se. It was more of an injury bug that hindered his defensive abilities in the first half. In the second half, he’s been much more efficient. If anything, a lockdown perimeter defender would benefit him.
With Bryant, World Peace and Nash reaching the ends to their respective careers, a splash of youth is almost a necessary move the Lakers have to make if they hope to improve their defense.
Potential Additions: Trevor Ariza (player option), Corey Brewer, Tony Allen
Depth
Depth will always be at the forefront of concerns for an old team like the Lakers. The organization has gotten a glimpse of that in 2012-13, as Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard, Steve Nash, and Metta World Peace have all been injured at some point this year.
Many of the same trends will probably exist next season. No one is getting any younger and realistically, one injury could spell disaster for some of these guys. Basketball is a young man’s game, after all.
This is another scenario where Los Angeles’ roster would benefit from adding younger players rather than adding aging veterans–alas, Antawn Jamison. Not rookies, but players in their mid-20s with some experience would be ideal.
The Lakers’ age is really exposed when they struggle to manufacture easy fast-break points (22nd in NBA) and when they struggled to get back on defense–they allow the second most fast-break points per game in the league.
Potential Additions: D.J. Augustin, C.J. Miles, Ivan Johnson
Final Thoughts
This current Lakers roster probably has one more run left. I know, pundits have been saying that for a couple years now, but they have since upgraded their roster. But with Kobe Bryant’s retirement nearing, an end of an era is also approach.
If Los Angeles can address their areas of weakness, there’s no reason not to believe that the Lakers can’t win in 2013-14.