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Pacific Division: 5 Burning Questions for the 2016-17 Season

By Josh Cornelissen

November 4, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles the basketball against Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Clippers 112-108. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 4, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles the basketball against Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Clippers 112-108. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA: Preseason-Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Lakers
NBA: Preseason-Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Lakers /

Which of the Los Angeles Lakers’ Young Players Are Long-term Building Blocks?

After the worst three-year stretch in team history, the Lakers are now flush with young players. While those at the top may think the Lakers are heading towards the postseason, this year is more about the distant future than playing basketball late in April.

Jordan Randle, D’Angelo Russell, and Brandon Ingram have the pedigree of high lottery picks. Larry Nance Jr, Anthony Brown, Jordan Clarkson, and Ivica Zubac are all lower picks who have shown flashes of being rotation players. The odds are against all of them panning out, and the Lakers need to identify where to commit their resources.

Randle was drafted in the 2014 Draft, but a broken leg limited him to 14 minutes his rookie year. Last season he debuted again alongside Russell, and showed the league a player with creativity on offense, passing skills, and little defensive impact.

Without Kobe Bean Bryant sucking up possessions and tightening the court, Randle will need to prove he can be an efficient scorer and playmaker skills. Ideally he plays a role in Luke Walton’s offense similar to Draymond Green – but he will need to grow in many areas to do so.

D’Angelo Russell made the news last season for two non-basketball reasons: the ineptitude of his coach Byron Scott and his immaturity in secretly taping teammate Nick Young’s confession of infidelity. Unfortunately that covered up his on-court success, as over the back half of the season Russell showed the ability to score in bunches and find open shooters.

Brandon Ingram is the latest blue chip to join the fold, drafted second overall in this past summer’s draft. His body and offensive game draw to mind our first glimpses of Kevin Durant, but that’s a high water mark for a 19-year old. His future role on this team is their top scorer, but he will need time to grow into that role.

While ownership may be pushing this team towards winning games, seen in public statements and massive contracts given to middling veterans, Luke Walton needs to focus his time and rotations on identifying what he has on his hands. If things all play out well, he has a core that can win a lot of basketball games. In 2019, not 2017.