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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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Mar 23, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. (7) and guard D’Angelo Russell (1) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Lakers 119-107. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Best-Case Scenario

Brandon Ingram overtakes Luol Deng for the starting small forward job midway through the season, using athleticism and efficient shooting to overcome his chief disadvantage in strength.

D’Angelo Russell stays out of trouble and continues to grow as a player, showing signs of one day being able to assert himself as a legitimate floor general and on-court leader. Clarkson feeds off of Russell’s playmaking ability, putting together his finest shooting/scoring season yet.

Randle shores up on the defensive end with Mozgov helping protect the rim, while Ivica Zubac earns extended run to eventually replace Mozzy in the starting lineup. By season’s end, Russell, Clarkson, Ingram, Randle and Zubac are all starting for a team far outside of the playoff picture, building confidence in a pressure-free situation.

Being a Western Conference bottom-feeder doesn’t sound like a best-case scenario, but the upcoming NBA Draft class is loaded and the Lakers owe their 2017 first-rounder to the Philadelphia 76ers if it falls outside the top-three.

Why not encourage internal development in another tank year to add yet another potential franchise cornerstone to the foundation?

Worst-Case Scenario

Walton struggles to reach his younger players, opting to feed Deng and Mozgov unnecessary minutes for far too long as he tries to prove himself as an NBA head coach.

Russell and Clarkson continue to show signs of immaturity, while Ingram struggles to prove himself off the bench against the NBA’s stronger wings. Randle averages another ho-hum double-double without making any substantial progress, while Zubac’s impressive Summer League showing proves to be nothing but a mirage.

With Walton feeding minutes to veterans like Deng, Mozzy and Louis Williams, the Lakers are still far from the playoff picture…but win a few too many games. They wind up sending their 2017 first round pick — most likely, a top-10 or even top-5 pick — to the Sixers, missing out on another foundational piece and a top-three selection in a loaded draft.

Next: Predictions

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