Why the Lakers are built to take over the West from the Warriors
By Jason Reed
3. The Warriors’ downfall lines up perfectly with the Lakers’ rise to the top
Even if the Los Angeles Lakers get two superstars in the summer of 2018, the young pieces will not yet be developed enough to take over the Warriors. They will undoubtedly be a playoff team and a top-three season in the West, but there is still some progression to do for Ball, Ingram and Kuzma to get to that next tier.
By the time that does happen, it will align perfectly with when the Warriors’ downfall will begin.
The Warriors simply have the best problem in the NBA to have: they have too many superstars. As we see with every super team, there comes a time when you simply cannot afford to pay each star. Steph Curry is locked down long-term, but after next year Klay Thompson is due for a payday.
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Draymond Green’s yearly salary is only increasing from here on out and the Warriors cannot expect Kevin Durant, who is easily worth $35-40 million a year, to keep taking pay cuts. Durant is making $25 million this season, less than Jrue Holliday is making.
Sure, it is fun to win and all, but in the summer of 2019, with presumably two more Championships under his belt, Durant may realize that he can contend for a title literally anywhere he goes and may go take that $40 million payday somewhere in the East to take over for LeBron James.
Regardless, this team is still going to be really good, but in two years time, it is going to be near impossible to keep these guys at bay. Thus, the new-look Lakers with five potential all-stars in the starting five, can outlast a Warriors team with Curry, Green and maybe Thompson (if he isn’t on the Lakers by that point).
Next: Building the Lakers ideal 2018 10-man rotation
Be patient, Lakers fan. The Los Angeles Lakers have spoiled you with success your entire lives. In a few years time, they will back atop the mountain.