Lakers Free Agency 2015: LA Lakers Continuing Climb Back To The Top With Latest Moves

Roy Hibbert, Lou Williams, and Brandon Bass are all coming to town with one thing on their mind — winning that ever elusive NBA title.

On top of having the No. 2 overall pick in D’Angelo Russell running things alongside Kobe Bryant, the LA Lakers just upped the ante even more in the Pacific Division by making some big moves with big names.

Let’s hope that brings home big banners.

Their most notable moves include a gamble on former Indiana Pacer Roy Hibbert — a guy who’s struggled, to put it nicely, in the playoffs, the addition of sixth-man of the year Lou Williams from the Toronto Raptors, and throwing Brandon Bass from the Boston Celtics in the mix.

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Boom. Snap. Crackle. Pop.

Oh yeah, almost forgot to mention Julius Randle will be in the line up, too.

So let’s take a quick second to try and figure out where exactly the Lakers want to be in the immediate future.

They’ve gone from that one team with no good players that went from the second-worst team in the Western Conference — posting a laughable 21-61 record in 2015, mind you — to a club that might be able to take on anyone that wants to share the court with them.

Since the Bryant era is seriously looking like it’s coming to a conclusion shortly, the Lakers could very well become an even hotter free agent attraction next time around.

The fact that LaMarcus Aldridge denied the Lakers and went for the Spurs despite a head coach in Poppovich not being committed too long term and a combination of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobli, and Tony Parker we could very well be seeing for the last time.

What’s that tell you about how attractive they were in 2015 Free Agency?

Not very.

Roy Hibbert averaged ten points and seven rebounds last year for the Pacers and seriously faded out of the conversation when he hit a playoff brick wall a couple seasons ago.

And the worst part was that in Indiana it was all about trusting Hibbert and Hibbert alone down low.

In LA, he won’t experience nearly that much pressure to carry the team on rebounds — he’ll just be asked to pitch in.

It’s like that group project you always have hated since high school because your group sucked but times changing and that project actually going well.

If the Lakers’ gamble with Hibbert doesn’t pay off, no biggie — it was well worth the chance, given that the Lakers clearly want to make a championship push as soon as possible.

Adding the defending sixth-man of the year in Lou Williams makes it that much sweeter.

Williams provided the necessary boost off the bench for the Toronto Raptors to start becoming relevant in the Eastern Conference.

Tougher opponents, especially bench opponents, will give Williams the chance he’s been looking for to try and perfect his craft and try to be something similar to what James Harden has become, as Harden was once in his shoes.

But it’s cool, everyone’s got doubters.

Lastly, getting Brandon Bass from the Celtics might help Julius Randle thrive more than even we in the media expect in 2015-16.

Bottom Line: The Lakers made the right moves for the future

Bass comes to the table bringing over a decade of experience and will be the role model Randle can work with to make the Lakers have one of the best well-rounded teams in the league moving forward.

And if the Lakers know anything, it’s that experience, a love for the game, and a little bit of luck can go a long way in the NBA.