Fansided

3 ways the Lakers can improve next season

By Josh Criswell

Dec 30, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) during the game against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. The Lakers won 111-103. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) during the game against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. The Lakers won 111-103. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Lakers experienced an embarrassing 2014-2015 season, filled with injuries and just horrible basketball in general. What can they do to get better next season?

The Los Angeles Lakers capped of a horrendous season in fitting fashion last night, losing 122-99 to the bumbling and injury-plagued Sacramento Kings. Sadly, the 23-point blowout loss to a team finishing its season 24 games under .500 is far from the most embarrassing part of the Lakers season.

After Kobe Bryant went down with yet another season-ending injury, head coach Byron Scott and the Lakers stumbled their way to a 21-61 record. That is correct; 40 games below .500. The abomination of a season is the Lakers worst statistical year since the 1957-1958 season, when the team went 19-53, and the second-worst season in team history.

So how can the Lakers improve from the disaster that was the 2014-2015 season?

Here are three suggestions for the Los Angeles Lakers’ front office if they hope to become relevant again anytime soon:

1. Fire Byron Scott

When former Lakers head coach Mike D’Antoni resigned last offseason, he removed himself from the absolute mess that the franchise has become since the departure of 11-time NBA champion Phil Jackson following the 2011 playoffs.

So who does general manager Mitch Kupchak and the Lakers’ brass bring in to right the ship?

Byron Scott, a career .429 coach that has not had a winning season in six years, and has not won a playoff series since 2003.

This season proved that Scott is a coach who clearly cannot command an NBA roster like he once could, especially one that is not exactly primed for success. That simply will not fly under the bright lights of Los Angeles.

Go after a promising assistant. Throw a ridiculous sum of money at a proven college coach, perhaps John Calipari or Billy Donavan.

Whatever the Lakers front office decides, just please do not make basketball fans suffer anymore from another season of Byron Scott putting his coaching inabilities on full display.

2. Land Karl-Anthony Towns in the NBA Draft

In an extremely rare occurrence, the Lakers have the benefit of having high first round picks in the draft for two years in a row. There is a slight possibility that the Lakers could lose their first round pick, but that is unlikely. The Philadelphia 76ers own the rights to the Lakers’ first round pick, but the pick is top-five protected, and given the Lakers’ position near the bottom of the NBA standings, they should have no worries.

Assuming that the team maintains its top-five pick, they must do everything in their capability to select Kentucky Wildcats center Karl-Anthony Towns. While Jahlil Okafor of Duke has been a longtime favorite as the top talent in the draft, Towns has been challenging him for that title as of late.

While Okafor is a more polished product on the offensive end, he has struggled tremendously on defense at times, arising from a combination of lack of effort and poor footwork and fundamentals.

Towns, on the other hand, may be a little more raw as an NBA prospect, but his athleticism, tremendous effort on both ends of the court and his ability to become a defensive anchor in the paint from Day 1 should make him the organization’s top priority in the upcoming draft.

A front-court consisting of Towns and Julius Randle, last year’s talented first round pick, has potential to make the Lakers a serious contender in the Western Conference for years to come.

3. Rid themselves of the Black Mamba

I know, I know. Five rings. Two Finals MVP awards. 17 All-Star game appearances. A lifelong Laker.

All of these are amazing accomplishments that will undoubtedly have Kobe Bryant go down as one of the greatest NBA players of all-time, and arguably the greatest Laker ever.

Unfortunately, I have some bad news and a harsh reality for Kobe fanboys and Los Angeles Lakers supporters; that Kobe Bryant is never coming back, and it is time to move on, like Mark Cuban said years ago.

There is no denying his greatness, but there is also no denying the idiotic nature of the team’s decision last year to award an injured player entering his late-30s with a lifetime achievement award, coming in the form of a two-year $48.5 million contract.

Not that many teams are lining up to bring in a 36-year old former superstar with a massive salary cap hit, but it is worth a shot at least. Getting his salary off the books would benefit the Lakers tremendously, as they enter an offseason that is extremely crucial to the team’s future.

I appreciate the greatness that once was Kobe Bryant just as much as anybody, but as long as he is on the Lakers roster, they will never be able to move forward as an organization.

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