Los Angeles Lakers: 2017-18 NBA season preview

Storyline 2: Can this team make a playoff push?

The Los Angeles Lakers have not gone through such a prolonged period of losing in franchise history. Their fans are surely restless, wondering what the goal is for the season. It is possible the Lakers don’t have much of a plan for this year, as their sights are set on summer 2018.

But the season must still be played, and the coaching staff — and players — will be gunning for wins. While fans talk about tanking and front offices clearly balance priorities of winning now and increasing draft capital, the coaches and players themselves always push for a win in every game.

Brook Lopez was a fringe All-Star in Brooklyn, an adequate rim protector and a gifted scorer. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is neither the elite defender or shooter he was made out to be, but he’s still solid at both. Lonzo Ball may not be able to score against defenders, but he’s still a generational passer and culture-builder.

Can this team make a push for the postseason? As crazy as it seems, the Lakers have a significantly better roster than they did a few months ago. They have real NBA players older than 22 at multiple positions, and that counts for something. Luke Walton is still brimming with potential. This team could surprise.

Unfortunately, in the Western Conference a surprise likely means the 10th spot, and nothing more. Memphis, Dallas, New Orleans, Portland and the Los Angeles Clippers — the Lakers would have to finish better than each of those teams simply to make it into the playoffs. That goal seems lofty and out of reach.

But that doesn’t mean the team won’t strive for it, nor would it be harmful for them to do so. With the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers sharing the rights to Los Angeles’ next first round draft pick, there is little incentive to be terrible this season. Instead they could fight for every loose ball, every rebound, and pull-up from outside the arc to rain fire on opposing defenses. It shows potential free agents that the players in L.A. want to win.

Effort doesn’t equal playoffs, and 14 teams sit at home watching the postseason. Not every team that puts forth effort to win games will win them. If Deng has juice left in the tank and the new players are any good, if Randle and Ingram can grow closer to their potential and any of the late-round picks stick, then this team improves its win total from last season — perhaps significantly. But the playoffs? That’s a bridge too far.