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Los Angeles Lakers: 2016-17 Season Outlook

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 1, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D Angelo Russell (1) celebrates with Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (left) after making a shot during the fourth quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Staples Center. The Los Angeles Lakers won 107-101. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D Angelo Russell (1) celebrates with Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (left) after making a shot during the fourth quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Staples Center. The Los Angeles Lakers won 107-101. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Los Angeles Lakers
July 5, 2016; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers draft picks Brandon Ingram and Ivica Zubac pose with vice president of basketball operation Jim Buss following their introductory press conference at Toyota Sports Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

2016-17 Roster

Zach Auguste, PF
Tarik Black, C
Anthony Brown, SF
Jose Calderon, PG
Jordan Clarkson, SG
Luol Deng, SF
Marcelo Huertas, PG
Brandon Ingram, SF
Julian Jacobs, PG
Yi Jianlian, C
Timofey Mozgov, C
Larry Nance Jr., PF
Julius Randle, PF
D’Angelo Russell, PG
Travis Wear, SF
Louis Williams, SG
Nick Young, SF
Ivica Zubac, C

Offseason Additions
Zach Auguste (undrafted free agent, Notre Dame), Jose Calderon (trade, Chicago Bulls), Luol Deng (free agent, Miami Heat), Brandon Ingram (No. 2 overall draft pick, Duke), Julian Jacobs (undrafted free agent, USC), Yi Jianlian (free agent, Guangdong Southern Tigers {China}), Timofey Mozgov (free agent, Cleveland Cavaliers), Travis Wear (free agent, RETAbet.es GBC {Spain}), Ivica Zubac (No. 32 overall draft pick, France)

Offseason Subtractions
Brandon Bass (free agent, Los Angeles Clippers), Kobe Bryant (retirement), Roy Hibbert (free agent, Charlotte Hornets), Ryan Kelly (free agent, unsigned), Robert Sacre (free agent, New Orleans Pelicans), Metta World Peace (free agent, unsigned)

Quick Thoughts

With respected veterans like Kobe and Metta World Peace — and not-so-respected veterans like Roy Hibbert and Brandon Bass — on the way out, the Lakers fan base is all in on a rebuilding effort centered around D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Brandon Ingram and Julius Randle.

New additions like Luol Deng and Timofey Mozgov, despite being vastly overpaid, should help tighten up the league’s worst defense from last season and provide a somewhat immature group of youngsters with positive examples of veteran leadership.

More from Los Angeles Lakers

In a summer that had been circled on most fans’ calendars for years because of Kevin Durant‘s free agency, the Lakers’ inability to even secure meetings with the summer’s marquee free agents was an obvious disappointment.

However, other than that disastrously inflated Mozgov contract, the Lakers did well to stay focused on internal growth over the offseason. Rookie Brandon Ingram has been compared to Kevin Durant, and though those comparisons may be a bit premature, his ceiling is immense.

Second round pick Ivica Zubac also proved to be a tantalizing prospect in NBA Summer League, averaging 10.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. Ideally, “Zublocka” will be able to prove himself and replace Mozzy as the team’s starting center by season’s end.

The question now is how Walton will manage a crowded backcourt rotation. Between Russell, Clarkson, Jose Calderon, Marcelo Huertas, Louis Williams and Nick Young, the Lakers’ current roster doesn’t have enough minutes to go around for everyone.

Next: Storyline 1: How Good Is This Young Core?

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