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Los Angeles Lakers: 5 reasons they will make the playoffs in 2017-18

By Josh Cornelissen

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 10: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on with Head coach Luke Walton of the Los Angeles Lakers during the preseason game against the Utah Jazz on October 10, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 10: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on with Head coach Luke Walton of the Los Angeles Lakers during the preseason game against the Utah Jazz on October 10, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers
Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images /

4. New veteran talent

In the summer of 2016, as the salary cap surged into the clouds and teams suddenly had endless fountains of money to spend on free agents, the Lakers sought to add key veterans to their young squad. Their choices, Luol Deng and Timofey Mozgov, were both expensive and largely ineffective.

If the goal was to chase a playoff berth, the team failed utterly, winning just 26 games. If the goal was to mentor young talent, another failing grade is in store, as multiple players were involved in off-court issues that fractured team chemistry. Deng and Mozgov became albatross contracts seemingly overnight, barely contributing on the court or off it.

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Mozgov is gone, and replacing him is Brook Lopez. Much more than a placeholder at center, Lopez is a former All-Star player who last season added a 3-point shot to his arsenal and unleashed it with incredible frequency and accuracy. Last season Lopez averaged 20.5 points, 1.7 blocks and 1.8 made 3-pointers per game for a Brooklyn Nets team with little else to offer around him.

While Deng is still on the team, his role may diminish as Brandon Ingram, Larry Nance Jr. and Kyle Kuzma increase their minutes. The role of veteran wing player will now be filled by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, signed to a one-year contract to set himself up for a major payday next summer.

Caldwell-Pope was never supposed to be on the open market, but saw the Detroit Pistons renounce his rights and acquire Avery Bradley. KCP joins the Lakers after averaging 13.8 points per game for Detroit last year.

While Lopez and Caldwell-Pope are not Marc Gasol and Klay Thompson, they are talented players with real pedigrees in the prime of their careers. When and if the team can move Deng, these are the experienced veterans that will lead the Lakers to the promised land.

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