What's Next For Los Angeles Lakers Now That Kobe Bryant Is Gone?

Kobe Bryant went out in crowd-pleasing fashion last week, and as No. 24 walked off the floor for the final time an era closed for the Los Angeles Lakers. So, now what?

For two decades the Lakers centered their entire organizational strategy on Bryant, his future and putting pieces around him to help the franchise succeed. Over the last few years, that philosophy has shifted, now it must be completely uprooted.

Thanks to three awful seasons in a row, the Lakers have stockpiled some good young talent and have a 55.8 percent chance to keep their top three draft pick this year. Unfortunately, if the ping pong balls bounce against Los Angeles and the pick falls outside the top three, it would be sent to the Philadelphia 76ers. The franchise is also slated to have the most cap space of any NBA team this summer.

The Lakers will obviously build the franchise around 20-year-old point guard D'Angelo Russell whom they selected with the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. He and 21-year-old forward Julius Randle will be the focus moving forward. Both had slow starts to this season, but came on strong late and showed they could be a great duo. At times, Russell looked like a future All-NBA guy.

Meanwhile, in what was essentially his rookie year (he played one game in 2014 before breaking his leg), Randle averaged a double-double (11.3 points, 10.2 rebounds). The Kentucky product must improve his efficiency and shooting percentage, but he’s the kind of rough-and-tumble forward-with-a-jumper teams love these days. He’s not a pure post guy, but should continue to develop into a solid stretch-four as his shot improves.

Those are two really nice pieces for the future, when you pair them with impending restricted free agent guard Jordan Clarkson, the Lakers have a solid trio. Clarkson is a former second-round pick who earned All-Rookie distinction last season, then averaged 15.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 32.3 minutes this year. The Missouri product’s biggest career achievement may be dating Kendall Jenner, but he’s not bad on the court either. Clarkson’s defense needs to improve, but the uber-athletic 23-year-old has the drive to get better. Expect the Lakers to match any offer he receives in free agency this offseason.

Los Angeles was able to add two other players I’m high on during the 2015 NBA Draft, who could be solid long-term pros. They snagged bouncy 6-foot-9 forward Larry Nance Jr. and 3-and-D man Anthony Brown with the 27th and 34th picks respectively. Both guys could wind up as valuable bench pieces who rotate into the starting lineup as soon as next season.

That’s the good news for the Lakers, but the elephant in the room is the 2016 NBA Draft lottery, which will take place on May 17. The franchise’s fortunes could be made on that day. If the Lakers land in the top two – where the odds heavily favor them to – they will almost certainly wind up with either LSU’s Ben Simmons or Duke’s Brandon Ingram. Either player would give Los Angeles a bona fide future superstar to match with Russell, Randle, et al. The lottery will be enormous for the Lakers. If the ping pong balls don’t bounce their way, the team’s first selection will not come until the 32nd pick.

Some have suggested that if the Lakers lose their pick because the balls don’t bounce their way, it would be a complete disaster. While it would be unfortunate, that scenario wouldn’t come close to crippling the franchise.

Simmons or Ingram would be enormous additions, but the team could fill that void in free agency as well. The Lakers currently have just $23.1 million in salary commitments for the 2016-17 season, and the NBA’s salary cap is jumping to $92 million. Los Angeles doesn’t need to spend that cash this offseason, but can if the lottery doesn’t play out well.

Many have claimed that Compton native DeMar DeRozan desperately wants to play for the Lakers. He would give the team a 6-foot-7 wing who averaged 23.5 points, 4.0 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game this season. DeRozan doesn’t have close to the upside of Ingram or Simmons, but he’d be a fine consolation prize. And he’s just one potential option.

As it stands, the Lakers need a wing and a rim protector. They should have plenty of offensive firepower moving forward, the key is improving the team’s defense and getting another weapon on the perimeter to take pressure off Russell.

Another concern for the Lakers is having a head coach who can get the most out of his young players. While Byron Scott may open the 2016-17 season as the team’s head coach, I’m not sure he’ll last long. And with the collection of talent outlined above, Los Angeles should have no problem finding a long-term solution at head coach.

Many have criticized the Lakers for paying and playing Kobe Bryant the last few years. The records posted have reflected a franchise in a deep transition that was forced upon them by the disastrous decisions when it came to the additions of Dwight Howard and Steve Nash. But with the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs set firmly atop the Western Conference, it was actually the perfect time for Los Angeles to hunker down, rebuild and honor its departing star. There was no way the Lakers were going to win a title in the past three seasons and if you’re not going to win a title, you might as well tank.

While purely looking at this year’s record won’t inspire much hope for Lakers fans, a glance at the youth and talent currently on the roster does. It has been a rough three years in Lakerland, but the franchise should emerge from the other side with a bright future.