In this article I will turn my focus to the LA market, and take a look at what the Lakers and Clippers could do as the draft is 19 days away.
The past two seasons the Lakers have made the playoffs, but ended in early exits to the Suns both years. As most hoops fans know Kobe Bryant has made it publicly known that he is unhappy with the direction of the team and he wants to see some changes quickly. This year the Lakers have 5 free agents in Luke Walton, Ronnie Turiaf, Smush Parker, Shamond Williams, Chris Mihm, and Aaron Mckie. They may resign 3 of them Walton, Turiaf, and Mihm. The Lakers also hold three draft picks this year #19, and #40 and #48. I won’t focus on the speculated rumors like the Lakers trading Odom or Bynum for players like Jermaine O’neal, Ron Artest, Mike Bibby, or any others. The Lakers are over the salary cap so free agency won’t be much help for them unless they can find some quality help with their mid level exception. The Lakers could use a quality starting small forward and point guard, a few free agents that come to my mind to fill voids are PGs Steve Blake, Earl Boykins, and Chucky Atkins. Some wing players are Andres Noconi, Ruben Patterson, James Posey, Jerry Stackhouse, and an outside possiblity Gerald Wallace. As for the draft the Lakers can find some quality players to fill some voids like wing players Thaddeus Young who will need to be developed, or more ready contributers like Morris Almond or Derrick Byars. They could go with a guard like Javaris Crittenton who would need to be developed, or players like Rodney Stuckey, Gabe Pruitt, or Marcus Williams. As for the second round picks I think the Lakers will go with a big player like Kyle Visser, Carl Landry, Ivan Radenovic, or Glen Davis. With their other selection I think it will depend on what they choose with the #19 pick PG or SF, and they’ll fill the other void so I say they could go with players like Bobby Brown, Wilson Chandler, or Caleb Green.
The LA Clippers had an unforunate turn of events last season, not making the playoffs after hig expectations, inconsistent play, and a freak injury with Shaun Livingston. The Clippers have 5 free agents and aren’t expected to resign any of them, non were really core players. With 10 players under contract next year and the Clippers on the verge of going over the salary cap, they won’t do much in free agency. They may sign international veteran Theo Papaloukas to a contact. The Clippers have 2 draft picks #14 and #45, with their first selection they could go with a PG, Sam Cassell is not guaranteed to stay healthy with his past history, and who knows how well Shaun Livingston will recover when he is able to return. They could go with ready to play now Acie Law, or the young talented but needs developed Javaris Crittenton. They could with a guard or wing player like Nick Young or Al Thornton. With their second selection they’ll probably go on need like the forward spots bigs like Jermareo Davidson or Ivan Radenovic, or smalls like Caleb Green, Wilson Chandler, or Trey Johnson.
Overall both the Lakers and Clippers have some deciding on what direction they’ll go this offseason, they’re playoff caliber teams, that need to find the right players that fit in on their squads. But most of all they need to beable to contribute sooner than later.
