Lakers set to host Celtics

After a rough season so far, the Lakers will play host to Boston on Friday night.

The Celtics are continuing their hunt of the Cavaliers back East, while the Lakers are trying not to have the worst record in the league.

Los Angeles is currently tied with Phoenix for the second-worst mark in the NBA. At 19-42, there’s no hope for a winning or breaking even type of season.

Questioning whether or not it’s time to begin tanking has already surfaced. Los Angeles is still trying to rally its young core together into something special, but this just wasn’t the year.

There’s promise from the young core, but adding another young draft pick could make all of the difference.

Parting ways with veteran Lou Williams at the trade deadline was the final straw. New team president Magic Johnson, who was named to his position two days prior to the deadline, wants them to start winning.

Getting in that mindset is half the battle, but the Lakers need talent to remotely compete in the Western Conference.

Rumor has it that Paul George will strongly consider Los Angeles when he becomes a free agent after next season. It’s a relatively short wait for fans, as it would give them time to develop whoever they draft next.

Making Los Angeles a popular destination for free agents is the missing nail in the coffin — and Magic Johnson knows that. D’Angelo Russell and Brandon Ingram aren’t ready to play savior, and neither is Julius Randle.

Out of the young cores in the league, Los Angeles has the most well-rounded one. In addition to that, you could argue that they have the most potential, assuming everyone in the young core stays with the Lakers in the long-term.

Next: Clippers Gearing Up For Bucks

They’ll be tested mightily when the Celtics come to town on Friday night.