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Lakers: Four steps to win a title by the 2020 season

By Jason Reed

EL SEGUNDO, CA - SEPTEMBER 25: NBA Finals Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy is covered with a protective cloth as it rest on a stand during Los Angeles Lakers Media Day at the Toyota Center on September 25, 2010 in El Segundo, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
EL SEGUNDO, CA - SEPTEMBER 25: NBA Finals Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy is covered with a protective cloth as it rest on a stand during Los Angeles Lakers Media Day at the Toyota Center on September 25, 2010 in El Segundo, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

4. Bring in a dominant center in 2018 or 2019

Lastly, the Lakers should go and get what they know best: a dominant big man. Throughout the history of the Los Angeles Lakers, every title-winning team had a dominant big man to play alongside another star.

West had Wilt Chamberlain, Magic had Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe had Shaq and then the duo of Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol. While the Lakers do not need to go and get a future Hall of Fame center, bringing in a great big man has been the blueprint for success; they should follow it.

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While the Lakers can just keep Brook Lopez, he is not the dominating force the Lakers need down low. Defensively he is not the best and his 5.4 rebounds per game are an area of concern. With Ball, DeRozan, George and Kuzma the Lakers don’t necessarily need a center that can space the floor.

One option next offseason is DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins has been tied to the Lakers before and would give a menacing presence down-low as well as the ability to stretch the floor. However, Cousins is a headache at times.

In 2019 even more options will be available. Al Horford, Hassan Whiteside and Marc Gasol all have player options in the 2019 offseason. With the current outlook of the team, Whiteside would be the best addition. He definitely has proven that he can score down low while cleaning the glass and blocking shots. Whiteside averaged 17.0 points, 14.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks last season.

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Then, the Lakers starting five would consist of Ball, DeRozan, George, Kuzma and Whiteside. Bench pieces will need to be picked up as time goes on, but quite frankly, that looks like a championship-caliber roster to me.

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