Los Angeles Lakers: Biggest strengths and weaknesses for 2017-18

Weakness No. 3: 3-point shooting needs to improve

The Los Angeles Lakers find themselves in a stacked Western Conference. If they hope to contend or become a playoff team for that matter, their 3-point shooting will need to improve drastically from last season.

The Lakers shot 34.6 percent from the 3-point arc as a team in 2016-17, ranking 22nd in the NBA. They ranked 19th in the league in 3-point makes per game with 8.9.

Los Angeles wasn’t the greatest 3-point shooting team last year, nor did they rely heavily on the 3-ball. As the league continues to evolve and rely more on small ball, the Los Angeles Lakers will need to adjust that trend.

It helps they signed guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the free agency as he’ll move the needle some on offense. Caldwell-Pope averaged 13.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game last season with the Detroit Pistons, shooting 35.0 percent from 3 in 2016-17.

His addition certainly gives the offense a boost, but it may not be exactly what they need.