Los Angeles Lakers: 5 reasons they won't make the playoffs in 2017-18

Los Angeles Lakers: 5 reasons they won’t make the playoffs in 2017-18

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 10: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Alex Caruso #4 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on 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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4. The focus is on 2018, not this season

With the deck stacked against them in a supercharged Western Conference, the Lakers will need to put everything they have into this season to make a playoff run. From in-season trades, to rotations, to resting players, the Lakers will need their eyes on 2017-18.

The problem is that the Lakers already have their eyes set on the summer of 2018, after the season ends. The trade they made before the 2017 NBA Draft, bringing in the expiring contract of Brook Lopez and sending out long-term salary in Timofey Mozgov and D’Angelo Russell, was to free up space in 2018.

Next summer is when a number of high-profile stars become free agents, and the Lakers want to lure two to Hollywood. Whether it’s LeBron James, Paul George, Chris Paul, DeMarcus Cousins or any of a number of other names, Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka are starry-eyed.

That focus could result in trading veterans to free up cap space. Perhaps worse, it could mean playing less effective players to showcase them for a trade, even if they would be best served by managing the rotations differently. A Lakers team trying to lure free agents or one gunning for the playoffs will both want to win games, but the goals could alter the process along the way.

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