Which Laker will be the biggest surprise next season?
Our latest mailbag looks at some potential positive and negative surprises for the Lakers this upcoming season
We’re back with another mailbag post. Despite it being the dog days of summer, you guys stepped up with plenty of questions, so let’s dive into them!
I’m actually going to take inspiration from your answer to give you mine. I think Gabe Vincent will be the Lakers' positive surprise, and it took a lot for me not to say Jalen Hood-Schifino. I would give him a special mention because, if he is healthy, I think he could be in line for a strong season.
However, all of that applies to Vincent, who also has an actual track record of success in the NBA. Last year was effectively a write-off for him, but his archetype is needed on this roster. The team lacked point-of-attack defenders last season and you could see how useful he was even while not being 100% late in the season on that end.
The question is what will he be able to do offensively because he was nothing short of awful on that end last season. Just reverting to what the norm was for him in Miami is a drastic improvement on that end.
A strong season from him could change a lot of things, whether that means it makes it easier to trade D’Angelo Russell for a non-point guard or simply make it easier to offload Vincent’s contract.
As for a negative surprise, that’s pretty difficult considering this is the same roster as last year. Let me know below what you think!
This turned into quite the debate in the questions post when I think it might not be as drastic a problem as most suspect.
Yes, Team USA did rely on three older players to win gold this year, but those are also three of the 20-25 greatest players ever who are defying Father Time. I think that’s an important distinction.
Now, that being said, there are going to be a lot of questions about the team in 2028. But that’s four years away. A lot can change in four years.
I don’t think this is a generation problem or that something is rotten. Team USA will still trot out a lineup in Los Angeles that will be the most talented team in the competition.
Let’s save the panic for when there’s something worth panicking over.
It’s LeBron. Anthony Davis is coming off a season where he played the most games of his career and LeBron is about to be 40.
Darvin Ham and it’s not even close. Byron Scott might have more accolades but he was carried by a generational PG through an incredibly bad Eastern Conference.
And that was before his horrendous run as Lakers head coach.
Here’s a bit of a smaller one that I think about. In the summer of 2012, Ramon Sessions opted out of his contract in search of more money and, potentially, a bigger role. Most expected him to still remain with the Lakers on an improved deal, especially after the Lakers traded a first round pick for him.
Instead, the Lakers shocked everyone and traded for Steve Nash, a move that could hardly have gone worse. Injuries limited him to 65 games across three seasons.
So, what if Sessions didn’t opt out? There’s a chance they still look to trade him, but he was coming off a pretty putrid postseason run. Do they bank on him improving with an extra season under his belt? Are they even looking in the direction of Nash? Would they commit the $30 million they gave to Nash somewhere else?
One of Sessions’ strengths was in the pick and roll. If the team still goes after Howard, does that change things?
It’s not a big what if and probably doesn’t drastically change any of the Lakers seasons, but it’s still one I’ve thought of before.
Let me know your favorite Laker what ifs down below.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude.