With an early exit from the 2021 playoffs, the Lakers will have to take a hard look in the mirror. Health was a huge issue throughout the season, and they never were able to put together a stretch of sustained success. The bottom line is that the drop-off after LeBron James and Anthony Davis is an issue. The Suns’ offense had multiple guys that felt empowered to attack the rim and make plays, such as Cameron Payne, Mikal Bridges, and Jae Crowder.
The Lakers didn’t have that type of dynamism. In fact, their offense was the opposite of dynamic. It was slow and stagnant. Part of that stems from playing with James and Davis as offensive focal points. They get into their triple threat jab steps and settle for jumpers. The Lakers need to find a way to inject some life into their offense.
In the 2018 summer, LeBron announced he would be signing with the Lakers. The Lakers constructed a roster with multiple ball handlers to take the load off, James. They wanted to sustain LeBron from a longevity perspective. In the end, they didn’t have enough shooting. James also missed a stretch of games for the first time in his career.
The Lakers could try to implement that theory of multiple guys that can attack. As John Hollinger of The Athletic details, the issue is the Lakers are up against the luxury tax line. They have $10 million to work with over half a roster to fill out. Hollinger has this to say if the Lakers were to pay Dennis Schroeder, Talen Horton-Tucker, and Alex Caruso their market value according to his formula:
“Just paying those three players their market value would put the Lakers about $30 million into the tax; adding a player with the taxpayer mid-level exception and three minimum contracts on top of that would push them more than $40 million over. The concomitant penalty for that tax breach is $140 million, a check even this deep-pocketed franchise wouldn’t stomach writing … especially to bring back a team that finished in seventh and lost in the first round.”
The Lakers don’t have enough money realistically even to bring this team back. That’s an issue heading to this offseason, where they desperately need to improve their surrounding pieces.
Internal development often goes under the radar because a lot of it goes unseen. But the Lakers will need their younger players to improve this offseason to reach championship heights.
Kyle Kuzma
Kuzma’s statistical regression from his first two years in the league has been well documented. He made his mark as a player who could score the ball in various ways using his athleticism, touch, and creativity. When James arrived in 2018, he averaged 18.7 points per game on 15 attempts. When Davis arrived, Kuzma was relegated to a bench role, and he’s averaged around 12-13 points since then.
The Lakers converted him to a jack-of-all-trades forward. They asked him to improve his defense, which he has tremendously. On offense, he is left as a spot-up shooter where he is decent but not good enough to the point where he can make a living out there.
In his best season with the Lakers, they played with a lot more ball movement. With Lonzo Ball, Rajon Rondo, and James. They all helped set Kuzma up as a cutter and got him the ball in advantageous spots. This iteration of the Lakers use a lot more isolation and pick and rolls on offense, which leaves the rest of the team standing still.
If the Lakers can get back to some ball movement, it would ease James and Davis’s load and allow Kuzma to get into a rhythm offensively. With his defensive improvements, he could be a staple next to James and AD.
Kuzma thrives in a system where the ball is moving. That’s why he developed great chemistry with Lonzo Ball in the years they played together. The Lakers should try to bring back that style, and it’ll also keep their two stars fresh.
Talen Horton-Tucker
Horton-Tucker looks like a steal in the second round. He has no shortage of confidence and is one of the few guys outside of James and AD that can create his shot. Horton-Tucker has tremendous skill and gets to his midrange spots. Surprisingly, he didn’t get a more significant amount of minutes throughout the season. He isn’t solid enough on defense for the staff to trust him, but in the long run, they need his offense.
He has the physical tools to be a solid defender. Horton-Tucker is 6’4 but has a 7’1 wingspan. He has the strength to match up against bigger players. Conceptually, he might not be there, but the Lakers should let him work through that. The question for THT on top of his defense is offensive consistency. He shot 28% from three, but that’s not an accurate indicator of the type of shooter he is. There are no glaring form issues, and he’s a near 80% free throw shooter. Plus, his midrange touch is outstanding. With more of an offensive role and another year of understanding, THT could see a giant leap next season.
Unfortunately, he might not return next season. He is a restricted free agent this summer, but the Lakers might not want to bring him back if the offer is too high. While he has immense potential, the Lakers win now mode and might decide to bring in a veteran. That veteran, especially at the salary the Lakers could offer, probably won’t be as talented as Tucker. The Lakers should try to bring him back.
With a free agency class lacking in talent, teams with cap space might throw a large offer sheet knowing the Lakers might not be able to retain him.
Change of Offensive Style
Internal improvement doesn’t stop at player development. One of the things the Lakers should look to change is their offensive identity. LeBron James teams don’t usually have ball movement, but they might need to make that shift. As he gets older, he might not have the same ability to blow by defenders and finish well around the hoop. Ball movement could get James in an advantageous situation where he can attack and get downhill fast.
Anthony Davis is a jumper-heavy offensive player. He could be their go-to isolation scorer. They can also use him at the elbows and post to make passes. When his jumper is clicking, he can go to that part of his game, but he’s never been a consistent threat from the midrange. Davis is an elite play finisher when he can roll hard to the basket and get dump-offs. Injuries might have played a role in why he didn’t attack the basket as much, but an extended offseason should help.
The change might not necessarily be acquiring a headline-free agent. It might not be a possibility. If the Lakers want to fulfill their championship aspirations, they will need to change up how they play, particularly on the offensive end.
For more NBA coverage, click here.
