The Lakers own a record of 19-37, which is currently the third-worst mark in the league. If the season ended today, the team would have a 15.6% chance at the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft, as our Reverse Standings indicate.
If Los Angeles’ 2017 draft pick ends up outside the top-3, Philadelphia will receive it and the team’s 2019 first round pick will go to Orlando. If the Lakers do not convey their 2017 first-rounder to the Sixers, they will send two second-rounders to the Magic instead of that 2019 first-rounder.
As we wait to see where the team’s pick ends up, check out some notes from Los Angeles:
- Magic Johnson was hired to be a special advisor to Lakers co-owner Jeanie Buss, but Johnson recently revealed that he wants to “call the shots” in the front office. Jeff Miller of the Orange County Register wonders if Johnson is the right person to run the show in Los Angeles. Miller admits that Johnson will restore legitimacy to the team, but adds that his presence may not help in free agency. The scribe notes that the former Laker great was part of the team’s pitch to Carmelo Anthony in 2014 and it didn’t bring the star to L.A.
- D’Angelo Russell is showing signs that he can live up to his 2015 draft status, Ben Alamar of ESPN.com writes. The Ohio State product is posting similar numbers to Chris Paul when Paul first came into the league. Alamar notes that Russell’s biggest deficiency is his ability to get to the free throw line, as the point guard is averaging less than 5.5 free throw attempts per 100 possessions.
- There’s reason to be optimistic about Julius Randle‘s career going forward, Alamar contends in the same piece. The scribe applauds Randle’s passing ability as well as his rebounding ability, but notes that the power forward’s efficiency on offense is holding him back.
As soon as Randle gets a right hand he’ll be deadly, power, quickness, skill so let’s work Brah! Dlo is coming along fine, needs the judgement of when to score or pass. The whole team needs defense. Ok Luke crack em down. Suicides for laggers
I sorta disagree with the Randle Sentiment ( I have said all along as well, that he will get more effective, when his right hand around the hoop becomes at least a plausible option and even last yr , he showed a willingness to use it and keep working on it.. For me its his ability to stretch the floor that ( or making sure he can ) that will be his more dangerous eventual weapon… he is is ok from the left side of the arc on both ends ( top of the key and baseline not great yet when he tries to shoot from there ) if he can get the top of the key three to add to that left side of the arc, he becomes legitimate piece…people forget ZBO added that really late in his career, just cause the NBA changed then…Randle works at that shot consistently and if can get around 36/38% by nxt season, and 40 % in limited tries ( say five ) in the nxt two… he is (could be )dangerous draymond type… he doesnt need to be the franchise changer, with DLO/Ingram
The Lakers need to keep Russell, Ingram, and Randle right where they are and draft Malik Monk to play alongside Russell. They would have serious firepower in the backcourt and that would alleviate pressure for Ingram to play his all around game and Randle to operate more freely inside. Interchange Mozgov and Zubac at center.
Here is a quick list of words to describe a sportswriter that have actually been uttered at least once in history to do so: columnist, reporter, journalist, commentator, author, possibly contributor. Notice anything missing? Despite “scribe” showing up on thesaurus.com, which is almost certainly where it was discovered by the person responsible for this article, there is not a single other soul that has ever used the word scribe interchangeably with sportswriter. By all means though, keep heedlessly using substitute terms generated by a thesaurus without considering the relevance or treatment of the word in today’s society. Not like it makes the site appear any less professional!
What are you, 12? Millenials are so so confused.
Quick Google search shows stories from Bleacher Report, Deadspin, Boston Herald, Mother Jones, New York Post, and many others have used “scribe” in the headlines alone for sports stories. You’re free to hate the word, of course, but this seems like a weird axe to grind.
Oh boohoo I don’t understand a word. I’ve seen this site (or at least their affiliate sites) use the term scribe plenty of times.
LOL… I thought I was the only one… we used the scribe, in the Military….as to describe the person taking notes for the Drill Instructors…or Plt Sgt’s in a meeting… lol… I was waiting to find to find notes on that article from someone other then the author… of a fairly well know book lol… I dont think he meant to use it to describe his ethnicity…but I dont know his background well enough to say that for certain
LOL go ahead and thumb down ROFL… guess whoever did was not in the military or doesnt understand what the word scribe meant in historical reference lol… Im not saying I agree with the above statement.. just that it is odd, not many other sites use the word scribe, to describe a Author, ESPN Writer, and Speaker on analytics…lol
A year and a half in and Russell still can’t take two dribbles in halfcourt with his right hand.
What is that sports writer talking about. Chris Paul scored over 16 PPG and 8 APG as a rookie. That is dramatically better than Russell’s first TWO years in the league.
Russell is a good shooter, I don’t see him as legitimate PG like Chris Paul
dont disagree… but if you check basketball reference, he saying similar…and similarly beeter then the other guards at that stage of their career…
That would be only 3 assists less, and only 2.7 points less..if you look further into his PER 36 , that gap is less
link to bkref.com
and if type all five guys into that…include R.Westbrook even… yes He is similarly comparable… now I agree with this thou, for Sure… Paul was a classic pass first point guard (albiet he had a better team his first two yrs ) link to bkref.com
I still think DLO expands his ability to pass first ( he has after returning from injury ) but again.. I think he would benefit from playn off ball still more…and at times he really plays the SF, when he is on the floor with Ingram, Lou ( when Ingram handles the ball ) and even when you have Randle playn Point F, Ingram and Lou, and DLO…he really is the third guy distributing…also his first season… Kobe had the ball in his hands… So writer is right..and Per 100 even closer
Im a celtics fan so i hate the lakers but i think the Lakers should trade russel, nance jr, and deng plus a 2018 and 2019 first round pick for Anthony Davis
Then make a run at westbrook in free agency seeing as how hes expressed his interest to go there
The lakers can not trade there 2019 pick it belongs to Orlando unless they fall in the top 3 this year. And couldn’t trade 1st rounders in back to back years. So hypothetically your idea centers around (assuming they land top 3 this year) 1st rounders 2019/2021, 1 young talent 1 possible above average player and a past his prime defender who is being over payed. I mean I’m a laker fan and this would never happen.
This would be horrible for Lakers
LOL R/West signed an ext.. he is not a free agent till after 2018/19 season ( if he opts out ) (summer of 19) which is as if right now with new CBA probably not happening…The Lakers pick conveys to the sixers, if outside the top three and 2019 pick to Magic… so that isnt gonna work