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NBA: 7 ways Lakers can achieve basketball nirvana

By Josh Hill

Dec 2, 2014; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) during the game against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 2, 2014; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) during the game against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 15, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) drives to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers forward Carlos Boozer (5) in the first half during the NBA game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 15, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) drives to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers forward Carlos Boozer (5) in the first half during the NBA game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Understand You’re Not A Destination Team Anymore

Speaking of free agents, they don’t want to play in L.A. anymore — at least, not for the purple and gold. Kevin Love chose to sign elsewhere, LaMarcus Aldridge doesn’t want to play for the Lakers and there’s not much hope for other top targets who will hit the market.

The Clippers are the kings of Los Angeles now, and the Lakers need to willingly take a backseat for now and allow the natural process of being second-best play its course.

Just like a scorned Bond villain, the Lakers need to retreat into the rafters of the Staples Center and reconfigure their makeup — without leaning on top free agents to speed up the process.

Festering and gnawing on your wounds will only make a team more hungry than it was before, and that’s what the Lakers need to do. Free agents are not going to swoop in and rescue the franchise — instead the roster needs to mature and descend from the rafters and take back over what was once theirs, when the time is right.

Ridding the temptation of free agents will only help the maturation process along.

Next: 5. Trade Kobe to Phil Jackson

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