What Should the Los Angeles Lakers Do Next After the 2015 NBA Draft?
With the Los Angeles Lakers' most anticipated draft in a generation now in the rear-view mirror, it's time to shift focus to the next phase of the rebuilding project.
We won't be dissecting the actual picks here. There are any number of places you can go to for that kind of analysis today—including B/R's Jonathan Wasserman's draft grades. Rather, we'll look at what the selections portend for L.A.'s immediate future.
In particular, choosing D'Angelo Russell over Jahlil Okafor—who was widely believed to be the pick going into the draft process—with the No. 2 overall selection blazes a trail for the Lakers to follow this summer.
Let's take a look at the next pieces to the puzzle.
Chase Big-Name Bigs in Free Agency
Going small in the draft with Russell has many thinking that the Lakers have big (pun intended) plans in free agency.
Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak claims that had no bearing on the decision to go with Russell, telling the media, "It so turns out that there are a lot of big men that may be available during free agency, and if you look at the guys in the backcourt, there may not be as many. But that wasn't a factor [...]," according to Baxter Holmes of ESPN Los Angeles.
There are a staggering number of top-shelf big men hitting the market this offseason, including Kevin Love, LaMarcus Aldridge, DeAndre Jordan, Tyson Chandler, Brook Lopez and Greg Monroe. It makes sense for L.A.'s front office to upgrade the backcourt via the draft and look to add size from the plethora of choice options available in free agency.
Love has long been linked to the franchise, after starring at UCLA for a year, and he did opt out of the final year of his deal in Cleveland. However, it seems that Aldridge has replaced the former Bruin at the top of the wish list after sources told ESPN's Marc Stein that the perennial All-Star is "thinking more and more" about joining the Lakers.
Inking either star would be a huge talent boost to the roster, though there are concerns of fit. Both men are natural power forwards, and the Lakers already have last year's first-rounder—Julius Randle—primed to step into that role.
Aldridge has the size and length to play center, but it's well known that he prefers to slot in at the 4 to avoid abusing his body down on the block. Love at center would be a defensive nightmare, especially next to Randle.
But if you can sign one of the eight to 12 best players in the league—as both Love and Aldridge have proven to be—you do it and figure out the rest later.
Someone who hasn't been discussed at length before, but makes sense from a fit perspective now is Jordan.
The Clippers center has improved every year of his career (except for his foul shooting), and topped it off this past season by earning All-NBA Third Team and All-Defense First Team honors.
He's led the league in field-goal percentage three years running and is the two-time defending NBA rebounding leader, hitting career highs of 71 percent (!) shooting and 15 boards a night in 2015.
According to Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times, the Lakers will be one of four teams to visit Jordan at his home when the free agency period kicks off.
Jordan would make an excellent defensive anchor to pair with the offensive punch of the rest of L.A.'s lineup. And he wouldn't have to change a thing about his life.
Keep Pursuing Advantageous Trades
The Lakers were deep into talks with the Sacramento Kings about acquiring DeMarcus Cousins. That trade was ostensibly contingent on L.A. drafting Jahlil Okafor and sending him north to give the Kings a replacement franchise center, and after selecting Russell instead, it appears both parties have moved on.
But Kupchak should keep engaging the Kings in discussions regarding Cousins.
There is an ever-growing rift between the mercurial star and his bosses. The Kings somewhat drafted Willie Cauley-Stein with the sixth overall selection in the draft in what appears to be a desperate attempt at appeasement.
Cauley-Stein and Cousins are buddies with Kentucky ties, and Cousins wants to play next to a legit center to save his body some undue punishment. But Sacramento passed up better prospects in Emmanuel Mudiay and Justise Winslow in order to appeal to Cousins.
That situation is still a mess, and Cousins' agent Dan Fegan has plenty of experience in getting superstars out of messy situations. The Lakers should keep applying pressure from their end to get a deal done.
If L.A. indeed signs a blue-chip power forward like Love or Aldridge, then Randle—whom the Lakers were reluctant to part with in a package for Cousins—becomes expendable. Drafting Russell also makes it easier for L.A. to include Jordan Clarkson in trade talks.
Even if a Cousins acquisition never materializes, Kupchak and Co. should keep working the phones to see what else is out there after the free-agency dust settles and the organization knows what assets it has to offer.
Build Around the Young Core
Now we bring head coach Byron Scott into the picture, as this goes beyond the roster moves into how the club actually plays on the floor.
First off, L.A. has to start stretching defenses with outside shooting. The Lakers drafted two of the most accurate high-volume three-point shooters in the nation last season in Russell and Anthony Brown (41 and 44 percent, respectively, on over 11 combined attempts per game).
While Randle doesn't have three-point range, his outside shot has reportedly improved a lot. Obviously, either Love or Aldridge would bring special shooting ability to the power forward spot. All of these guys can work off of Kobe Bryant post-ups and isolations—which will still make up a significant chunk of the offense when Bryant is on the court.
Playing more pick-and-roll would also work to L.A.'s advantage.
Russell is a truly gifted playmaker, blessed with excellent vision and scoring instincts. He will be a great pick-and-roll player.
Clarkson proved he could be a threat in that action last season. According to NBA.com, the rookie guard ranked 17th in the league in points per possession as the ball-handler in pick-and-roll situations among those who accrued 200 such possessions over 50 or more games.
Randle's ability to put the ball on the floor and finish around the hoop will make him an excellent screen-and-roll partner. And all of the bigs the Lakers will chase this summer are phenomenal in the two-man game.
Lastly, Scott shouldn't be afraid to try out some funky lineups. Play Clarkson and Russell together in the backcourt, especially when Bryant hits the bench. Both youngsters have the size to guard on the wing, and the handles provide multiple slashing threats on offense.
Go super small with Randle at center and shooting all over to try and push the tempo. It's not a winning strategy in the long-term, but it may be able to swing a game over the course of a few minutes.
The Lakers finally have young legs to lean on. They're not in title contention yet, so this season will be all about experimentation to see how to best put their skills to use.
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