The Los Angeles Lakers: On The Right Track For a Repeat

The 2008-2009 NBA champs are cementing themselves at another shot at the title.

The Lakers have made blockbuster deals in getting Ron Artest on their squad for the 2009-2010 season.

Ron Artest can relieve Kobe Bryant on defending players like LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony so Kobe can focus on his role in running the Lakers' offense.

Ron Artest is a former Defensive Player of the Year that is part of a group who averages 15+ points, five+ rebounds, and two+ steals a game in their entire career. A group that consists NBA greats like Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.

The Lakers are also making efforts in getting back Lamar Odom. In this article, it states that the Los Angeles Lakers are offering Lamar Odom in the neighborhood of eight million dollars in the hopes of bringing him back for next season.

Lamar Odom is a great role player for the Lakers. He has experience on the big stage and has been with the Lakers through its subpar years. Averaging 15.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists a game, he is a player the Lakers do not want to let slip away.

Their are also players that has the potential to contribute to the Lakers next season. Randy Garcia's article, about Adam Morrison got me thinking on how nice it would be for Adam to be a scorer for the Los Angeles Lakers bench.

Adam Morrison has played a total of three games in the Summer League averaging 22 points, five rebounds, and shooting 50 percent from behind the arc.

The Summer League is not like the regular season. Looking beyond that Adam Morrison is showing the Lakers the potential he can bring.

If Adam Morrison is reinventing himself for the better, the Lakers bench will be one of the greater ones in the league. Presuming Lamar Odom will be back, the sixth man for the Los Angeles Lakers, then surely the Lakers team are already stacked with great talent.

Also, the great duo in Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol wouldn't hurt either. These two made some clutch plays in the playoffs. One of their most memorable plays in the playoffs that they contributed on is this little dish for Pau from Kobe.

With great things coming from the Lakers' players and staves they are the favorite to win the Lakers franchise its sixteenth championship. Phil Jackson better get used to wearing a toe ring.