Lakers News: Young Core is ready to shine
By Mehdi Bouneb
The latest Lakers news focuses on the growth and development of Los Angeles’ young core.
It’s been some time since the Las Vegas NBA Summer League has come to an end, but Lakers fans all around have reason for excitement with training camp just over a month away.
If the summer league was any indication, the Lakers’ young core is ready to take the NBA by storm.
Before we dive into the young core, the Lakers’ number two pick, Brandon Ingram, has shown superstar potential with some flashy performances.
Even though he showed some struggles, it is expected of young rookies, and shouldn’t give too much reason for worry.
Meanwhile, the Lakers may potentially have acquired another second-round steal in Ivica Zubac.
Mike Trudell of Lakers.com provides us with the stats of the 2016 draftees during their final summer league game:
A. Brown said he doesn’t know how Zubac fell to Round 2, thinks he can be like Marc Gasol in a few years. Real, legit talent, said Brown.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) July 16, 2016
Zubac amassed a total of 13 blocks in five games.
Even teammate Anthony Brown went as far as comparing him to another current European NBA star:
A. Brown said he doesn’t know how Zubac fell to Round 2, thinks he can be like Marc Gasol in a few years. Real, legit talent, said Brown.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) July 16, 2016
Now if Zubac can produce at Marc Gasol‘s level, the Lakers will be able to add to their fantastic lineage of great centers.
New rookies aside, Ingram and Zubac are two additions to an already talented young core composed of D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle, and Larry Nance, Jr.
Even though Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle did not partake in the summer league, we got to witness the exceptional development of Russell and Nance, Jr.
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Russell dazzled the crowd with flashy handles and buzzer-beaters, whereas Nance, Jr. made the crowd roar with ferocious dunks.
What is even more encouraging is that Ingram, Randle, and Russell were given the opportunity to be part of Team USA’s Select team to practice against the US Olympic squad.
Ingram got his first taste of playing against established NBA players, whereas Russell and Randle continued to build on their development and promising careers.
What the Lakers coaching staff and fans all around hope is that the young trio gained valuable experience from their time in Las Vegas, and bring back a newfound motivation to help improve the current state of the Lakers.
Is the young core ready to take the Lakers to the playoffs?
Perhaps, but the Lakers should not have high expectations for the upcoming season.
This year will be about gaining experience and building chemistry on and off the court. If the Lakers somehow manage to sneak into the eight seed, then it will show great improvement and the foundation to a bright future will have been laid out.
Luke Walton knows he has a lot of work to do but with one of the most talented young cores in the NBA, the sky is the limit for these young Lakers.