LA Lakers and LA Clippers Face Season-Defining Offseasons

After disappointing playoff showings in 2013, the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers will be tested in the offseason.

The Lakers played without one of the best players in franchise history during the 2013 playoffs and suffered because of it. Kobe Bryant’s Achilles tear kept him sidelined during the entirety of the playoffs and raised the possibility the team could waive him during the summer.

Using the amnesty provision on Bryant allows the Lakers to reduce their salary commitments by nearly $30 million and retool the roster while potentially avoiding the luxury tax.

In a vacuum, any franchise would jettison an injured 35-year old Bryant given the financial relief they would gain from the transaction. But in the real world, it’s not as easy.

Bryant is arguably the most beloved figure in Los Angeles and also one of the greatest Lakers ever. Although the use of the amnesty would allow for his return in 2014-15, there is still a small chance he could join another team.

That makes the decision an incredibly difficult one for the Lakers franchise. In addition, the Lakers have a superstar in Dwight Howard scheduled to enter free agency in the 2013 offseason.

Retaining his services is one of the most important steps in ensuring the team remains highly relevant and competes for championships.

The Howard building block is far from a sure thing, mind you. With him leading the way, the Lakers were swept in the opening round of the 2013 playoffs by the San Antonio Spurs.

The three-time Defensive Player of the Year even got himself ejected in the final game of the series and essentially left his teammates out to dry. Further compounding issues, Howard was not properly utilized by Mike D’Antoni.

It’s worth noting once the coaching vacancy opened up with the Lakers during the course of the 2012-13 campaign, Howard endorsed the prospective hire of Phil Jackson, according to Sheridan Hoops.

Instead, D’Antoni was given the reins, and Howard struggled mightily under his tutelage. This fact places the Lakers in a precarious position: The franchise must placate Howard, and there is a chance that doing so requires bringing in a new head coach.

Consequently, Howard might dictate the terms of his signing, which could be a dangerous proposition for the Lakers.

If the franchise declines to amnesty Bryant and re-signs Howard, they would have roughly $110 million in player salaries. This would force the Lakers into trading away Pau Gasol’s $19.3 million contract in an effort to avoid the luxury tax.

On the surface this makes sense, but Howard developed great offensive chemistry with the Spaniard late in the 2012-13 season and might not be inclined to return if he feels Gasol won’t be around.

The moves the Lakers make prior to the start of the 2013-14 regular season will more than likely affect the franchise in the short and long term.

The Clippers are in a boat sharing several similarities with the Lakers.

Their postseason was cut short when Blake Griffin became completely ineffective versus the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the 2013 playoffs. A unit many predicted would make the Western Conference finals was dispatched early and now faces concerns going into the offseason.

Much like the Purple and Gold, the Clippers have a superstar scheduled to become a free agent in Chris Paul.

Four teams (Lakers included) will make pitches for his services, and there is a high likelihood they will be quite convincing.

Paul has multiple options at his disposal. He could rejoin the Clippers, join the Lakers or simply vacate the city of Los Angeles and sign with another contender.

Hence, much like the Lakers, the Clippers must sell their superstar free agent on the merits of re-signing. An argument could be made that Paul is far more important to the Clippers than Howard is to the Lakers.

His arrival in Clipperland changed the culture of the squad and turned them into a playoff team. Keeping him on board is synonymous with respectability and a sign of change for the franchise.

But handling Paul’s free agency could be just as delicate as Howard’s.

Vinny Del Negro has often been criticized for his coaching acumen, and consequently, there are rumblings he might not be back in 2014-15. Some believe the team has underachieved under his direction given the less-than-stellar playoff exits in consecutive seasons.

Mind you, because the team performed well enough to earn back-to-back postseason berths, the Clippers might go with the status quo and keep him in place.

On the other hand, a new coach might bring the team to unprecedented heights given the talent available on the roster. Or, the team could simply sink.

Between the head coaching position and free agency, the Clippers could look completely different once the 2013-14 campaign tips off. The 2013 offseason will decide how the ensuing season plays itself out.

The summer of 2013 will be an important one in Los Angeles. The Lakers and Clippers could see their rosters and coaches change. Then again, both might stand pat.

The L.A. teams’ attempts to improve will surely provide a lot of intrigue in the league. But more importantly, their transactions will alter the landscape of the Western Conference.