Are the Lakers Young uns enough to build a good core?

Lakerpark · Star Player Joined: 09 Nov 2002 Posts: 2117

Will the Lakers young guns become a good enough core for a playoff bound team?

Let's extrapolate a little here...

1. Julius Randle PF, needs to work on his jumper and defense but he has shown he is a rebounding beast and a very good passer.

2. Jordan Clarkson, SG - is anyone disappointed with his play this season? He has improved from last season and he is the Lakers most consistent player. Still can improve his 3 ball.

3. DLo Russell, PG, still a work in progress...but has shown he can shoot well enough and I think the consensus is his D isn't too bad. If he improves as much as Jordan Clarkson did after his first season, he should be pretty good.

4. Larry Nance Jr, Back up PF - Can do it all, just needs to do it a little better. He needs to be less shy about shooting. Another season and he'll be even better.

5. Anthony Brown, SF, 3 and D, doing everything we could ask. I'm sure he'll improve more and if the Lakers ever get a decent offense, hopefully he'll knock down those open 3s.

6. Tarik Black, back up C - just needs to learn to shoot and according to some, improve his man D.

7. Robert Upshaw - C - needs to get stronger and more experienced. Has the tools on offense and can block shots. Would it be outlandish to say Andrew Bynum without the bad knees? Please sign him.

That's 7 potentially pretty decent players. If they get to keep the top 3 draft pick that would be pretty nice.

Seems pretty doubtful they Lakers would sign a superstar Free agent like Durant or even Westbrook.

Unless they want to trade some of the youngsters and try for an instant contender I think the youngsters are a pretty good core in the next 2 or 3 years.

What do you think of the Lakers going after Buddy Heidl from Oklahoma? (I think that's his name). They could sure use a light's out shooter.

Of course they need a good coach too.

Jim99187 · Franchise Player Joined: 03 Jan 2014 Posts: 22138

no.

u need to use that 65m to get players who will let these guys be and grow at their own pace.

activeverb · Retired Number Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 37470

This is just a wishful thinking post. We're not going to be an instant contender. Accept it.

At this point, everyone of our young guys is a question mark. Randle, Clarkson, etc. may be good enough to be starters on a good team. Or they may not be. We'll see how they develop. Heck, we'll see if we even keep Clarkson after this season or if he signs elsewhere.

And that's just the guys who have gotten some actual run. You are really getting into looney-tunes terrain when you praise guys like Brown (who has done nothing yet) and Upshaw (who has never played in the NBA and whose rights we don't even have).

Lakers2015 · Star Player Joined: 16 Feb 2015 Posts: 2315

Way I see it D-LO has the potential to be the best point guard in the game. Superb court vision, probably has the best jump shot of this group. Decent handles. Starting to show off his post game. Sees the floor so well. He's like a quarterback in football who has the ability to look off defenders. He's learning to use his length on defense to overcome lack of elite foot speed.

Julius is already a double double machine and at 6"9 has the physicality combined with athleticism to offset his lack of size if he can continue to improve his jump shot and develop that right hand. He can be one of the league's premier big man in a few years ago.

JC is the most consistent performer of the group. His defense is still horrific, but offensively he is much improved and is so polished and skilled. If his defense doesn't improve than I see him as probably a super sixth man in the mold of Jamal Crawford or prime Jason Terry which is pretty damn good. Has a great floater.

Nance is a future starter in this league imo. He's like a poor man's Draymond Green. He makes good rotations. Takes good shots. Is a ball mover. Understands spacing and pick setting. Good pick and roll defender. Obviously a sensational athlete. Decent mid range jump shooter.

Anthony Brown has the potential to be a sensational perimeter defender. He's long, lanky, good defensive instincts, moves his foot well laterally, his issue is lack of strength so can be overpowered on the box and not a very good rebounder. His shot has gotten better, but still needs a lot of work. If he can do that he could be a starting small forward in a couple of years.
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venturalakersfan · Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 4:28 pm Post subject:

They could definitely be part of a core once a couple of quality vets are added to them. They need players to lead them.
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LakersRGolden · Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 4:41 pm Post subject:

They're all really good side-kicks, but you need a volume scorer that can give you 24+ a night every night on decent efficiency who will be the alpha dog.

You also need a serious upgrade at center.

So, they're an incomplete core, but could be part of that core in 3+ years if that's how it plays out.

sogood. · Star Player Joined: 17 Oct 2015 Posts: 1821

I think Russell has the potential to be a great player in the league. A high point and assists total guy once he developed his body and his handcuffs are removed (Byron).

Randle is a rebounding machine with good athleticism but man he has no feel around the basket. His shots are either bricks or bricks that actually goes in.

Clarkson IMO is a sixth man on a playoff team. Good scorer but his defense is so bad. A lot of time he suffers from tunnel vision.

Nance like a previous poster stated IMO can develop into a similar player as Draymond Green. Obviously not as good but a do it all guy who knows his place in the offense.

fontana3d · Star Player Joined: 22 Mar 2013 Posts: 3794

They are not do yet they have the young core together they just need the right vets to lead them.

Legacy · Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 6:48 pm Post subject:

Maybe good like a Memphis good. They need a superstar to make them great.

BigBallerBrand · Star Player Joined: 23 Dec 2008 Posts: 5802 Location: LA

Part of a core rotation? Of course, but so is Barbosa. Might have some all star performances from dlo/clarkson/randle one day. But superstar? Hell no
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business101 · Starting Rotation Joined: 25 Nov 2013 Posts: 757

There is only two guys on this Lakers team who you should feel comfortable executing Championship Level play down the line and that was D-Lo and Larry Nance Jr. The rest are trash, low IQ, or simply empty stat guys on this team. And I'm excusing Kobe cuz he's old.

business101 · Starting Rotation Joined: 25 Nov 2013 Posts: 757

There is only two guys on this Lakers team who you should feel comfortable executing Championship Level play down the line and that is D-Lo and Larry Nance Jr. The rest are trash, low IQ, or simply empty stat guys on this team.

PurpleAndGOAT · Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 7:47 pm Post subject:

Only time will tell
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yinoma2001 · Retired Number Joined: 19 Jun 2010 Posts: 119487

Dave20 · Franchise Player Joined: 15 Jun 2013 Posts: 11333

They are good enough to build around. They're just being held back by KFT, Lou, and Byron. Clarkson is Westbrook lite. Randle is a left handed Griffin and DLO is cerebral like Ginobli.

venturalakersfan · Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 8:13 pm Post subject:

Well hopefully they will be held back next season by Derozan and Durant
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dmorans1 · Franchise Player Joined: 11 Sep 2012 Posts: 11669

dcarter4kobe · Franchise Player Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 17680

Would be nice if JC/Randle/Dlo/AB/Black/Nance all got consistent minutes so that we could clearly answer that question.

I personally do be believe all 6 of those guys are keepers and can be guys in our rotation next year..

Whiteside/Black
Randle/Nance
A.Brown/Ingram
DeRozan
Russell/Clarkson
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venturalakersfan · Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 8:18 pm Post subject:

I definitely agree they can be in our rotation, but if they are our top 5 or 6 we better hope we lose our pick this season so we can get a good one next offseason.
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noobie · Starting Rotation Joined: 30 May 2015 Posts: 156

If you're talking about a championship team, DLO and Nance can be part of the core. Randle has a shot especially with how hard he plays and the improvements he's been making.

SweetP · Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 8:45 pm Post subject:

Truck Turner · Star Player Joined: 28 Apr 2011 Posts: 3937

They could be, it's all a matter of if they can continue to develop at this rate.

People really need to realize that our most of our young players are in their rookie seasons. Clarkson is the only one with significant experience.

We'll never find out how good any of them are if they're traded away though. People need to be patient so we can see what we've really got.

KBH · Franchise Player Joined: 13 Sep 2008 Posts: 12171

Andre2K · Franchise Player Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 12199

They could be. As much as I like Kobe, today's game is a prime example of why I would like to see them without KFT's presence. I think he took all the shots in the last 5mins of the game besides the air ball to Bass, that is not winning basketball and the young players learn nothing from those type of plays except not to dare try it themselves, I mean wow.
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PICKnPOP · Star Player Joined: 14 Jul 2014 Posts: 5389

We have legit talent on this team. I think we still need one more player like Ingram or Simmons and were set, honestly. I'm not in as much of a hurry as everyone else when it comes to contending. I understand it's a process and I'm enjoying the ride. After we draft in the top 3 again this season and allow the young players to play together for a year I will start thinking about expectations.

We still need centers and small forwards but i think we're good. Who knows, maybe we draft a center this draft.