5 Los Angeles Lakers Storylines To Follow In 2016-17

How Will Luke Walton Fare As Head Coach?

There’s a lot of excitement in Los Angeles surrounding the offseason hiring of Walton. Especially with the way some of the Lakers’ recent head coaches have fared, it seemed like a step in the right direction for this franchise.

However, don’t trick yourself into thinking there’s no uncertainty.

While Walton was a sensation as the Golden State Warriors’ interim head coach last year, he’s in a much different situation in Los Angeles. The Lakers aren’t nearly as talented of a team, and this is Walton’s first real head coaching gig. This ever-passionate fanbase has also heaped a lot of pressure on the former Laker to turn this team around.

Can he get the job done? It would seem so, but it’s a tall order for a relatively young, inexperienced head coach.

It’s not like Walton has a player like Bryant to fall back on when the going gets tough. The majority of his top players are young players with big egos, which can be difficult to manage. Even with the help of Deng, you better believe Walton will suffer some setbacks this season.

I believe Walton has the ability to turn this team back into a contender. However, there will be some growing pains in 2016-17. Still, if he can earn the trust of this young roster and get them going in the right direction, the Lakers may have found their next long-term leader.