In a season of disappointment for the Los Angeles Lakers, it’s hard to imagine many positives being taken away when it comes to young players. After all, the Lakers have been one of the teams least involved in the NBA Draft, and their prized rookie power forward broke his leg in his very first professional basketball game.
It’s interesting then, that a first-year big man would be one of the highlights of an otherwise lost season for the purple and gold.
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However, Tarik Black surely has been impressive despite his fluctuating playing time. He’s proved himself to be a double-double threat in limited minutes for the Lakers, and while he’s not offensively gifted, he’s an energy player that can change the game with his rebounding ability.
Going forward for the franchise, Black looks to be a great fit on the roster as an energy big off the bench. He’s not as good as Jordan Hill or Ed Davis, but he’s a capable replacement at a fraction of the price that both of those bigs will command on the open market this upcoming offseason. Tarik Black, on a meager rookie deal given to him as an undrafted free agent, will not hamstring the Lakers’ pursuit of top-tier talent as they move forward.
It’s these type of moves, and the decision to develop these types of players, that can drive a franchise out of the doldrums and into the spotlight. Of course, he’s not going to do it by himself, but investing in Black’s development could pay big dividends for the Lakers given his contract status and the niche that he can fill on the team as they begin to build towards contention.
Paying Jordan Hill $9 million or matching Ed Davis’ upcoming contract demands could potentially trip up the Lakers’ pursuit of the best players in the free agency market. Investing in Black gives the team a potential rebounding big that is comfortable coming off the bench behind franchise building block Julius Randle, who will be making his true debut next season.
Aside from Jordan Clarkson, and maybe Ed Davis, Tarik Black has been one of the most impactful young players on the roster. If the choice came down to franchise favorite Ryan Kelly and the rookie big guy out of Kansas, it would be tough to make a case for keeping Kelly on the roster.
As the team looks towards the draft, no position is off limits. The need for scoring, bigs that can hold their own in the paint, and playmakers that improve the team as a whole, is quite real for the Los Angeles Lakers. Keeping Tarik Black next year is not going to change the fortunes of the franchise as a whole.
What that decision will do is provide flexibility, and fill the need of a bench big that the team can count on going forward. Tarik Black is a player that can be used to fill a specific role, and it’s one he fills exceptionally well when given the chance.
And, as of right now, the Lakers need a whole lot more of that.
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