Los Angeles Lakers: 2015-16 Season Outlook

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Jan 21, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) against the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Lakers 96-80. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Best Case Scenario

Kobe Bryant stays healthy for the entire 2015-16 season and has one last vintage year before calling it quits, avoiding taking up too much of the Lakers’ cap space in the process. D’Angelo Russell earns plenty of minutes, Jordan Clarkson continues to develop and Lou Williams gets the short end of the stick in the backcourt rotation.

Byron Scott actually lets his players shoot threes. Roy Hibbert drastically improves Los Angeles’ defense and makes the team more attractive to free agents next summer. The Lakers win 30-35 games and Julius Randle proves he’s not heading for draft bust territory.

Worst Case Scenario

Kobe Bryant goes down with a season/career-ending injury. His injury gives plenty of minutes to Clarkson and Russell, but the world doesn’t notice because of the smothering depression that sets in with the knowledge that Kobe’s time has finally come.

Hibbert is unable to improve the defense and his offensive flaws become the focus again. The offseason additions of Brandon Bass and Lou Williams don’t help the team improve and the Lakers do nothing to correct the league-wide perception that this franchise has a plan for the future as they tank their way to a 25-win season…which isn’t enough to prevent their top-3 protected pick from going to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Next: Predictions

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