Post by DB on Mar 19, 2008 16:41:19 GMT -5
The Los Angeles Lakers are coming into their second off-season with having a below 500 record and a lotto pick. Since last season the Lakers have been rebuilding for the first time in their franchise history, and so far things have gone pretty well. GM Dan Basone has managed to acquire expiring contracts, picks, youth and all the while young small forward Serge Ibaka has the makings of a future all star.
This off-season will be a real test because of the many obstacles that face Basone and the Laker organization. Ibaka has opted to test the free agent market, making things difficult for Basone to really focus his attention on one key big free agent. “Right now my intentions are to heavily pursue Serge Ibaka, and bring him back to LA. We feel as though he is our center piece and to move forward in the right direction we need him here” Basone said in his press conference yesterday. He went on to say, “ I have a lot of interest in a lot of guys in the free agent market this off season, but I will not mention names just yet. We are in the rebuilding mode, we are looking for youth and guys ready to be playmakers here.”
The Lakers have three 1st round draft selections including their own in this years draft, two top 7 picks and the New York Knicks selection which is a mid first round pick. The Lakers may end of happy after the lotto balls are done, or sadly disappointed. Right now the Lakers have the 5th selection (Lakers 1st) and the 7th selection (Hornets 1st). The Hornets pick is top five protected, which means if they get lucky in the lotto, the pick is there’s again, which is possibly the worst case scenario for the Lakers at this point. The best outlook here is the Lakers pick falls into the top 3 while the Hornets pick moves up a spot or stays the same.
It is no real secret that the past two seasons for Lakers fans have been disappointing, but at least they have had the chance to witness a future star who hopefully by the end of the first day of free agency will be in a Laker jersey once again. The Laker organization has had a lot of success dating back from their earlier years with Kobe Bryant, Baron Davis, Emeka Okafor, TJ Ford, Shawn Marion and many more, Basone knows what it takes to be successful in this league and this off season will be a major point in this organization moving forward to win a championship again. Time will only tell if Los Angeles will be on top again, and if they are we know for sure that GM Dan Basone will be the man who put it all together once again.
At the Staples Center, I am Jon Barry, ESPN.
This off-season will be a real test because of the many obstacles that face Basone and the Laker organization. Ibaka has opted to test the free agent market, making things difficult for Basone to really focus his attention on one key big free agent. “Right now my intentions are to heavily pursue Serge Ibaka, and bring him back to LA. We feel as though he is our center piece and to move forward in the right direction we need him here” Basone said in his press conference yesterday. He went on to say, “ I have a lot of interest in a lot of guys in the free agent market this off season, but I will not mention names just yet. We are in the rebuilding mode, we are looking for youth and guys ready to be playmakers here.”
The Lakers have three 1st round draft selections including their own in this years draft, two top 7 picks and the New York Knicks selection which is a mid first round pick. The Lakers may end of happy after the lotto balls are done, or sadly disappointed. Right now the Lakers have the 5th selection (Lakers 1st) and the 7th selection (Hornets 1st). The Hornets pick is top five protected, which means if they get lucky in the lotto, the pick is there’s again, which is possibly the worst case scenario for the Lakers at this point. The best outlook here is the Lakers pick falls into the top 3 while the Hornets pick moves up a spot or stays the same.
It is no real secret that the past two seasons for Lakers fans have been disappointing, but at least they have had the chance to witness a future star who hopefully by the end of the first day of free agency will be in a Laker jersey once again. The Laker organization has had a lot of success dating back from their earlier years with Kobe Bryant, Baron Davis, Emeka Okafor, TJ Ford, Shawn Marion and many more, Basone knows what it takes to be successful in this league and this off season will be a major point in this organization moving forward to win a championship again. Time will only tell if Los Angeles will be on top again, and if they are we know for sure that GM Dan Basone will be the man who put it all together once again.
At the Staples Center, I am Jon Barry, ESPN.
