The Los Angeles Lakers are dealing with one of the worst starts in franchise history after absorbing their third straight loss to open the 2014-15 NBA season. Despite their gallant effort against Western Conference powerhouse Los Angeles Clippers, the Lakers were clearly overwhelmed by the talent their rivals have.
With all the great players that lent their services for the purple-and-gold franchise, the talent level present in the Lakers' roster is definitely at its all-time low.
Kobe Bryant, who is coming from an ACL and knee injuries, is still the team's main scoring weapon, but unlike the previous seasons when Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard were roaming the paint, he has to settle with Jordan Hill and veteran Carlos Boozer, who was amnestied by the Chicago Bulls to give way for Gasol this summer.
Already crippled by injuries in the preseason, the Lakers saw another tragedy unfold before their very eyes after 7th-overall pick Julius Randle broke a leg in the season-opener against the Rockets last Tuesday.
These strings of disaster have dented the Lakers' slimmest hope of squeaking into the postseason. Instead, they are facing a painful conundrum that seems no imminent solution at hand.
According to Chad Ford of ESPN, the Lakers might have no options left but to tank away the remainder of the season for them to keep their first-round pick. The Phoenix Suns have the Lakers' first-round pick next summer after getting two first-rounder in the futile Steve Nash trade in 2012. However, the Lakers could keep their pick if they fall all the way to bottom five this season.
But the Lakers' struggle may not last that long. After all, Los Angeles is still an attractive destination for free-agents and the Lakers have all the financial means to get a top-level talent.
Thanks to a slew of bungled contract negotiations before Friday's deadline, next summer's free-agency class is going to be loaded at every position.
Hometown product Kawhi Leonard of San Antonio Spurs, Reggie Jackson of Oklahoma City Thunder, Jimmy Butler of Chicago Bulls, LaMarcus Aldridge of the Portland Trail Blazers and Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics will all be available.
There's no doubt the Lakers will get a big name free-agent. It's just a matter of picking the player who is perfect fit to play alongside Bryant and perhaps carry torch after the Black Mamba closes the curtain on his legendary basketball career.
