DeAngelo Russell Could Make It Big Time With Lakers
By Keith Rivas
Kobe Bryant, in a nearly single-handed manner, gave the blueprint for how to take over one of the hottest sports cities in the United States.
Winning came big, consistent, early, and nearly overwhelmed a youthful Bryant who came straight from Lower Merion High School to playing with the big boys. Eventually joined by the likes of Shaquille O’Neal and Derek Fisher, a number of NBA Championships started to show up again in Staples Center thanks to one of the best players in the game’s history.
That number is five.
Now that the Black Mamba Era is coming to a close in Los Angeles, it’s time for the next young gun to step up to the plate and take the throne.
That young man is DeAngelo Russell.
We’ve seen great play this past regular season from Jordan Clarkson at the point guard position in Kobe’s absence, but every good Batman knows he needs a Robin. Russell would be a great fit for a smaller role (at least initially) and then once both players get into a real groove with their career, the fun begins as you now have two deadly weapons instead of one.
Plus, with the way the Lakers were historically (to put it kindly) bad in 2014-15, the last thing you want to bring into next season is have only a knife in a gun fight.
I mean, what else has the Western Conference become?
The Clippers are on their way up, proving that with a huge Game 7 win against the San Antonio Spurs in this year’s playoffs. The Warriors of Golden State look to be set for several years to come. And to make things even more interesting, the dark horse (whoever that might be — this year it was New Orleans) always seems to have a chance to beat one of the top teams in the very first round before things even get that intense.
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Imagine what could happen if one of the Western juggernauts fall before meeting with the Lakers.
One of DeAngelo Russell’s biggest role models, according to an interview with LakersNation, is Manu Ginobli of San Antonio — a soldier of basketball who may very well be on his way out after a most recent first-round exit.
This could be huge news for the Lakers when it comes to analyzing their first-round draft choices.
One of the biggest positions to fill is the point guard position and if the Lakers don’t ensure that they have a backup to Clarkson’s latest magic, the fact that they were too dependent on Kobe coming back from injury and playing like a magician will finally fold and cave in, as it nearly has on several occasions already.
Bottom Line: For DeAngelo Russell, the price is right
There’s nothing wrong with admitting last year was rough. It’s doing something about it to make your team better that’s the real issue with the Lakers.
And if they don’t pick Russell, all could fall apart if Clarkson gets injured or, dare I say it, Kobe gets injured once more in what’s projected to be his final season.