Can Lakers Compete For West Title Next Season?
Team president and part owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, Jeanie Buss, said in an interview with USA Today's Sam Amick that she thinks the team will compete for the Western Conference Title next season.
The team hasn't been competitive since the 2012-13 season, which was the last time the Lakers finished over .500 and made the playoffs.
This season has already been thrown away and named the "Good-Bye Tour for Kobe Bryant."
Los Angeles currently has one of the worst records in the NBA at 11-46 and finished last season 21-61.
It doesn't seem likely that the Lakers can have such a big turn around in just one season. The team does have some promising young players with first round picks D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle, but it's not enough to think playoffs.
To be competitive again, Buss is banking on one thing...free agency.
"Hopefully now, our story and what we have to present will be enticing to whoever they have targeted in terms of free agency to bring here," Buss said in her interview with Amick.
The plans for the Lakers in the off-season is to spend big money to bring in players who can compliment the young players.
It's tough to predict how a team will do next season when the organization isn't even sure who will be on the roster.
The team will have a lot of money to spend with Bryant retiring and the salary cap shooting up next season.
Some of the big name free agents to be in the coming off-season include: Kevin Durant, Andre Drummond, Al Horford, Harrison Barnes, and Mike Conley.
The Lakers should be in the running for some of these free-agents.
Los Angeles is a top destination. It's a team with a rich history and is a globally loved team. With Bryant retiring, a big name free-agent has the chance to go to L.A. and become a bigger star than they already are if they can return the team to relevancy.
Click here for the full story from Sam Amick.