Of course, the 2013-2014 season is a lost one for the Lakers. No matter what happens from now on, the Lakers will not be able to turn things around. The team ranks dead last in the Western Conference with a 19-38 record. The playoffs are a dream for this season and without Kobe Bryant, the Lakers might even end up finishing last in the West.
The newly acquired Kent Bazemore really exploded since he arrived in LA. Going from a team where he barely played to a struggling Lakers team where he has the chance to shine, the 24-year old shooting guard instantly became the leading scorer of the Lakers. In his three games with his new team he is averaging 18.3 points to go along with 2.7 assists, while shooting 45.2 percent from the field. Bazemore is now showcasing his skills and hopefully he can continue to play big for the Lakers, at least until Kobe Bryant gets back.
It’s true that the Lakers will need more than such performances next season in order to become competitive once again. However, if we add up Ryan Kelly and Xavier Henry in the mix, a core of capable players is formed, which could be vital for the team going forward. The Lakers need to find some solutions for the next season or at least hope that they will have some quality pieces to surround Kobe and any other star the team possibly lands.
Lakers Ticket prices for the secondary market have reflected the drop in performance by almost 20% from a year ago. With the signing of the Lakers new youth, the hope for a good draft pick, trading of Pau for next season prices might start to rise again. Chris Michaels