Los Angeles Lakers: 3 Questions After The 2017-18 Season
The Los Angeles Lakers finished the 2017-18 season with the promise of a better future but still with plenty of questions. While the season didn’t go as planned for the Lakers (who did a major makeover in the front office and on the court), it wasn’t a total disaster. The Lakers finished the season 35-47, good for 11th place in the Western Conference. However, it wasn’t just their record that Lakers’ fans were focused on.
Here are 3 questions from the Los Angeles Lakers 2017-18 season.
What Happened To Brook Lopez
While with the Brooklyn Nets, Brook Lopez was once considered the best offensive-minded center in the NBA. The reason for Brooklyn wanting to part ways with Lopez was strictly a financial reason as the team was looking to shed cap space plus go younger for their rebuild. During his career with the Nets, Lopez averaged 18.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks while shooting 50 percent from the floor. However, with the Lakers, Lopez was much of a non-factor this season. Lopez finished the year averaging just 13 points and four rebounds while shooting a career-low 46 percent from the floor. His presence was needed on this young Los Angeles Lakers team and he failed to provide the paint presence they hoped for nor the leadership and toughness that was needed.
[MarkAds]Why Didn’t Luke Walton Take Advantage Of His Lineups
For the life of me, I can’t figure out why Luke Walton didn’t use his best lineup to get the Lakers to the playoffs. A starting backcourt of Lonzo Ball and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was etched in stone along with Lopez and Ingram in the frontcourt. But it was the back and forth of starting Kyle Kuzma and Julius Randle that may have sunk the Lakers. With Lopez struggling this year, Walton should have placed Randle in the 5 spot, used Ingram at PF, and placed Kuzma at SF. Yes, the lineup would have been small but the Lakers would have been athletic enough to contend.
Why The Los Angeles Lakers Did/Didn’t Make These Trades
Dating back to last season, Randle and Jordan Clarkson were mentioned in possible trades. This season, the Los Angeles Lakers finally made some moves but none of them were for the good of the team. Clarkson and Larry Nance were sent packing for Isaiah Thomas, Luol Deng is still riding the bench, Lopez never moved, and Randle is still a part of the team. The Lakers and Cavaliers deal was just weird. The Lakers sent two young and athletic players away for a player who said he didn’t want to be the Sixth Man. Thomas is also set to become a free agent this year. A trade for Lopez would have given the Lakers a chance to at least get a first or second rounder for the big man and by not trading Randle, they’re taking a chance of letting him walk for nothing.
[BXReporter] [MatchedContent]
Mark has been covering Sports and Entertainment for the past six years. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, ESPN, Fox Sports, Teen Vogue, and many other websites.
