Reasonable expectations to get back to the finals?

[nash]

[32]

[Runway8]

If Shaq didn't walk here in the summer of 96 pursuing a rap and acting career, we could be looking at a 29 year drought. MJ and the Bulls were such a fabric of the NBA, right? We're close to 20 yrs now without them. Why are we any more special than the Bulls?

There is no exact science to this, only luck and circumstances that hooks you up with once in a lifetime generation players. The Derek Roses and the Jimmy Butlers of the world isn't going to win you titles, neither will the Paul Georges and the Russell Westbrooks. Otherwise, you wouldn't be hearing their names as possible targets because they'd be popping champagne in their cities and considered untouchables.

What has been the common denominator for over 30 years now? Hall of Fame top 10 type players! Not top ten in the game of their time, but these guys are arguably top 10 ALL TIME.

Bird, Magic, Isiah/Dumars, Hakeem, Jordan, Shaq, Duncan, 2004 Pistons*, Wade, Kobe, Lebron, 2011 Dirk*, Curry/Klay.

These are all the names that have been involved in championships since 1984. I put an asterisk next to 2004 Pistons and 2011 Mavs because I think those are the only two times in the past 30+ years which a team that wasn't anything special won the title due to the stars aligning. But you can argue Dirk is up there top 15 or top 20. Isiah and Dumars are not top 10, but they had a very unique team with the Bad Boys defending the paint. And Isiah is especially unique. He was the bar for all the little guys who wanted to lead a team to a title. Isiah was the best little point guard in the past 30 yrs. That's why Isiah squeezed out 2 titles during Magic/Bird/Jordan era. You could say Curry supplanted him, but you could argue Curry created a brand-new category all to himself.

We've gone from Magic to Shaq to Kobe. Any team we field now, you can only hope will be competitive. Going back to the finals? You may not see it again in a loooooooong time. You need that special player. And if you trade for PG13 or Butler, you're looking at an even loooooooooooooongeeeeeer time. That's why I poo poo those names all the time. You need to swing for the fences, go for broke. These safe guys will only lead you to the playoffs, that's it. Don't trade away something that could be the next great one. You need to keep searching for the next great one. I don't care about winning 50 games for 4 straight seasons, then having to rebuild again. That's what every other team in the NBA does. They have these "safe" all-stars that give them 50 wins, but win no titles, they grow old, then they rebuild again. I rather go for broke like we've been doing and load up with high ceiling prospects. I'm fine what we've been doing. Either road is going to take a long time. But this "going for broke" road we've been doing gives you the better chance of getting that once in a lifetime player in the draft.
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"They are in the West! You must go D'Angelo Russell here, or my head will explode!" Jalen Rose

[Fortysixn2]

[70sdude]

After three more seasons from today, there begins a very reasonable start to a three year hence window of opportunity to make the Finals. That's years 4, 5 and 6.

[dcarter4kobe]

My perfect case scenario

1. Keep top 3 pick/Punt cap space
2. Stretch Mozgov/Deng in 2018. Trade Randle/JC for future draft picks
3. Sign both PG13/DMC

DMC/Zubac
Nance
Ingram/28th pick
PG13/Fultz,Ball,J.Jackson
DLO

Looks like a championship contender to me
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"He's a Zen master, so he can speak to you, and he doesn't need a microphone; you can hear him in your head, 'Ron, don't shoot, don't shoot.' Whatever, pow, three. I love the Zen, though."

[tox]

[dcarter4kobe]

[Gellollo]

Remember the summer Kobe demanded a trade, then a season later we were in the finals? Good times breh

[tox]

[CalisFinest]

Getting to the Finals is hard as hell. The Thunder had KD, Russ, Harden and Ibaka yet only had one finals appearance.

[unleasHell]

[SGVL1]

Let's not skip steps or get ahead of ourselves. I've often asked myself this year when will they just be competitive every night, especially on defense.. then we can worry about that 30 win mark. Then maybe be a .500 team. So far as finals go, I don't have a prediction other than it will probably be in the mid to late 2020's if at all

[ringfinger]

Let's start with not being bad enough to have a greater chance of getting a top 3 pick than not.

[Inspector Gadget]

[ReaListik]

I think that the team is about 10 years from another finals. Playoffs in like 6 or 7 years from now.
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"We are the goodest." - Shaq ESPN interview

[Noobs]

Depends on FO moves/luck.

If we keep our young core, I say never in their peak. If we trade our young core and make good/lucky decisions, who knows.

All the bottom feeder teams are stack with lotto picks as well. SO, you dudes really need to stop thinking that the Lakers are the only team that get better in the offseason

[Treble Clef]

It's hard to guess the years because their next finals trip may not contain any of the guys they have now. The Lakers still have a unique advantage when it comes to free agency. Even if they go 0-82, they're in the conversation for the max players. I don't think any other team can say that.

Because of this, things can around quickly. Their top 3 pick this year could be a franchise changer or they could get a top player in free agency or a trade. Or they could get a top player like PG in a trade and then get another top guy that wants to join him.

If they were a small market team with their current roster and draft situation, I'd say there is no championship in sight but with the Lakers brand, it's never impossible.

[CandyCanes]

What's sort of insane is that Durant AND Westbrook were not enough to win a championship over the course of nine seasons.

We have neither a Westbrook nor a Durant level player.
_________________
Damian Lillard shatters Dwight Coward's championship dreams:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZrbEjppnd4

[activeverb]

[Goldenwest]

Best case in three years. Cause I still believe in the laker brand and mystique.

[Vin]

[LakerLogic]

[70sdude]