Los Angeles Lakers: Offseason Fixes To Get Back On Track
The 2012-13 season has been one to forget for the Los Angeles Lakers. (Photo Credit: (Flickr.com)
I think it’s safe to say the 2012-13 season was a disaster for the Los Angeles Lakers. From the early-season drama to the injuries and the losing, it’s been a nightmare they just couldn’t wake up from after they hoped to be making a run at the NBA championship. The San Antonio Spurs may have actually done them a favor by sweeping them out of the playoffs.
Now the real Hollywood drama begins: How do they move on the disastrous season? Well, I have a few suggestions that could turn it all around.
Re-Sign Dwight Howard
If Dwight Howard so chooses, he can walk this offseason and the Los Angeles Lakers experiment will be right back to square one.
To be fair, they knew exactly what they were getting into when they traded for the former Orlando Magic diva because he explicitly said he was undecided on his future when they first acquired him. Now Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss are on the edge of their seats, praying he decides to stick around otherwise everything pretty much falls apart.
Simply put, Howard is the key to the future success of the L.A. Lakers. And despite the unsuccessful season this past term, they still hope to emulate the Shaq and Kobe combo that was so dominant early on in the century.
Also, Kobe Bryant upon return from the Achilles injury may be a shell of his former self and the Lakers need to start the post Mamba transition at some point. Dwight Howard would certainly be a big step to start with.
Lose D’Antoni
Mike Brown was fired just five games into his second season as the Los Angeles Lakers’ coach mainly because he couldn’t get the offense and the team going. In came the offensive guru, Mike D’Antoni, and he couldn’t get the purple-and-gold firing either.
Let’s face it, the fans were none too pleased about his arrival and his offensive system doesn’t exactly fit the players he currently has at his disposal. The Lakers front office should just cut their losses and admit defeat before this gets any worse.
Brian Shaw anyone?
Trade Gasol
Pau Gasol ended the season in with some great basketball for the L.A. Lakers (Photo Credit to Keith Allison, Flickr.com)
If D’Antoni is to stay, then the Lakers seriously need to explore the idea of trading Pau Gasol.
Last year, the team tried to trade Pau Gasol for Chris Paul until the all-mighty David Stern vetoed the deal. This year, they’ve got to ship him out for a stretch 4 if Mike D’Antoni’s system is to work.
Think about it–D’Antoni’s system is basically 3s and pick-and-rolls. Gasol currently operates at the free-throw area, the one place D’Antoni (and Steve Nash) would like to have opened up to run pick-and-rolls until the cows come home. In trading Gasol to a team like the Toronto Raptors, they would try to get Andrea Bargnani, who can stretch the floor and open up space in the paint. And L.A. native DeMar DeRozan, who could play off and improve Los Angeles Lakers’ bench or be the starting 3.
You could argue that Gasol had been playing brilliant basketball at season’s end so they shouldn’t trade him. However, that just means he is worth more in the market in my opinion and the Los Angeles Lakers should strike while he still holds major value.
Move Gasol to the bench
If the team wishes to retain Pau Gasol, they could always move him to the bench. As I’ve mentioned before, the Lakers essentially need a stretch 4 and to improve their secondary. Well, by making Gasol the sixth man, Mike D’Antoni would be killing two birds with one stone.
Earl Clark is already there and he proved he can do a solid job when given the chance. He’s shown great improvement over his time in the NBA and in my opinion, he could easily play as the starting stretch power forward.
Defense, defense, defense
D’Antoni has never been known to preach defense in his time as a basketball coach. His teams have always ranked highly offensively, however his answer to everything is pretty much more offense and that is exactly why he’s never been past the conference finals. That’s actually pretty amazing. Especially when you think of the talented squads he’s had over the years.
During his tenure in Phoenix and New York, his teams never ranked higher than 23rd defensively. This season his Lakers team ranked 22nd in points per game allowed. Considering the individual defensive talent he has at his disposal, that’s simply unacceptable.
Return of the Zen Master
When or if all else fails, Jim Buss needs to swallow his pride and beg Phil Jackson to come back. It’s what the fans want and you know Kobe Bryant would welcome him with open arms.
The man has 11 championship rings, for goodness sake. I’m pretty sure he knows a thing or two about basketball and he could fully utilize this talented bunch.