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

[RichD]

If you can't see the young guys potential then I don't know. What team has better under 23 guys than us? Maybe Minnesota?

[sogood.]

[Lakers2015]

[governator]

whether DLo/Randle/JC/Nance are good enough still remains to be seen, def potentials but grade still incomplete. I'm leaning toward a yes it is good enough but if there's a trade offer which include a star for 1 or 2 of our young uns, we should entertain the offer

[yinoma2001]

I think the Lakers will view their young core as:

1. possible trade assets;
2. will stagger them to coincide with stars who are in prime and will exit it when guys like DLO/Randle enter their relative prime;
3. not enough by themselves at this moment to guide a team to the playoffs.

I think it's great we have cost-controlled (JC to a different extent due to his being a RFA) assets that we can add to more seasoned stars.
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From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals

[Dave20]

[toffee]

Our young core isn't good enough, we need two or three big FA signings if we want to seriously compete.

[activeverb]

[LakerLanny]

[PICKnPOP]

Lol Randle is avg a double-double as a 20 YO rookie...he will only get better as he develops his game.

Russel is giving you damn near 4 rebounds a game as a PG coming off the bench...again...only going to get better.

Clarkson pretty much is what he is and won't develop as much as the others but he's still only a second year player so he will develop some.

I think Minnesota looks better now but I also think laker fans (as well as everyone else) are severely underratting our kids potential. Randle and Russell should be giving us 20 ppg each as soon as next year but most likely the season after.

[PICKnPOP]

Btw, I don't think a lot of people realize that how a player scores his points says a lot about the player. Randle will be a go-to-guy as soon as his jumpshot is consistent and not many players will be able to stick him 1v1. Russell is really good at finding the open spots on the floor...S owhen Randle starts getting doubled watch out...we're going to really have something.

[Wilkes52]

Well, the slack surrounding what a "good core" means is considerable. Good enough to keep for two more years and add to ? Sure.

I like the pieces Clarkson, D'Angelo, Randle and Nance. I can't tell whether any one guy is capable of being the number two guy of a championship team or not. I sure don't see a number one quality guy here yet, unless a Chauncy Billups-like future develops for D-Angelo. Randle could have the greatest upside among these players, but there's risk that he doesn't develop much further too.
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“These GOAT discussions are fun distractions while sitting around waiting for the pizza to be served.”

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

[yinoma2001]

Just sticking to the DLO/JC/Randle core and building AROUND them will keep us mired in the lottery for at least 2-3 years. I have confidence they will blossom into good players, but DLO/Randle are under 21 (JC will be 24 already in a few months).

The Lakers timetable already includes 3 missed playoffs. They're not going to wait around 2-3 years for these kids to grow up.

They will go after (and probably get 1 or 2 of): KD, DRoz, Westbrook, Ibaka, George, etc. in the next few seasons. Our young core will age and hit their prime just in time when the "star" players start aging.

That's how you sustain a dynastic run.
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From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals

[wolfpaclaker]

You need a balance of what we already have in Russ, JC, Randle, Nance and some vets.

That is what free agency is all about this summer.

Think we have 3 main needs.

1- Big man that can play well in Screen/Roll situations with guards, and defend the rim.

2- Guard or wing that is a floor general type, someone with experience in winning games as a ballhandler. But not ball dominant. Someone that blends in with Russ/JC.

3- Wing that has legit size that can be versatile defensively.

[yinoma2001]

[BigGameHames]

[BigGameHames]

[yinoma2001]

Barnes isn't leaving if KD isn't going there. I think he will be difficult to attain as a RFA and by the end of the moratorium, the Warriors will know if KD is coming to them. If not, Warriors will match him for sure,.
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From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals

[K28]

Hard to tell when we haven't really seen how Russell will develop. He looks solid and promising as a rookie...

Clarkson is fun to watch, but a horrendous defender.

Randle is a great rebounder with a limited offensive skillset.

Brown shows flashes here and there of being a good 3 and D type player.

Nance too shows a lot of promise, and might be the furthest developed of all the young guys.

[yinoma2001]

[Wilkes52]

The next Laker move or two will be interesting. Historically, when trying to reassemble a winning club management often brought in a somewhat volatile or disgruntled scoring veteran to help at the gate (Hawkins, Dantley, Ceballos).

I hope to avoid steps like that (e.g., DeMarcus Cousins.) They don't bring harmony and they don't contribute to championship quality play until used to bring someone else in. Interim steps, that what the club needs to execute well.
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“These GOAT discussions are fun distractions while sitting around waiting for the pizza to be served.”

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

[Tark the Shark]

[yinoma2001]

Yeah, I like JC but I don't see him as "elite." But as a 46th pick, we have a stud as a possible core-piece 6th man/starter level guard. Not WB, but very few of those exist (and we will target the real WB anyways).
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From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals

[Mike@LG]

It's a good young core.

None of them have really established themselves as franchise players.

It'll be interesting who steps up as a vocal leader for the team, and then shoulders the load for what the team needs instead of just trying to focus on self-development.
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I am not an economic advisor nor do I advise economic strategies or plans.

[Lakers_Jester]

If we add simmons heck yeah its a good core.