Kobe Bryant Retirement Means New Era In Store

Finding The Silver Lining

November 24, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors interim head coach Luke Walton (left) talks to Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24, right) after the game at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Lakers 111-77. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The Lakers will enter the 2016 off-season in the hopes of signing a marquee free-agent. The 2016 free-agent class is highlighted by Kevin Durant (unrestricted), Andre Drummond (restricted), Al Horford (unrestricted), Mike Conley (unrestricted), Harrison Barnes (restricted), Al Jefferson (unrestricted), Joakim Noah (unrestricted), and Rajon Rondo (unrestricted).

With the Lakers only having $23 million in guaranteed contracts, and the cap set to skyrocket to approximately $90 million.

Also, the Lakers will have $64 million in cap-space to sign any of the above free-agents among others not listed.

However, the likelihood of the Lakers signing Durant, Drummond, or Conley is slim to none.

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Based on how each team performs this season, I suspect that the players mentioned above will stay with their respective teams.

With the Lakers not even close to playing to their expectations, it is hard to envision the team have some sort of success in free agency. Trades are always a possibility but the team lacks assets. The team would be foolish to consider trading any of their three youngsters for anything less than an already established superstar.

This leaves them to rebuild through the draft, something the Lakers are not accustomed to.

However, the Lakers’ faith in the 2016 NBA Draft lies in the ping-pong balls that will determine the faith of each team who do not partake in the 2016 NBA Playoffs.

The Lakers, if lucky, will land in the top three in next year’s draft and retain their pick.

However, if the team lands the fourth pick or lower, the pick goes to Philadelphia due to the Steve Nash trade.

All the Lakers can hope for now is that lady luck is on their side.

Next: No. 3