NBA: Previewing the Pacific Division
By Tj Porreca
![Apr 13, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) smiles as he addresses the crowd after the Lakers defeat of the Utah Jazz in the final game of his career at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports Apr 13, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) smiles as he addresses the crowd after the Lakers defeat of the Utah Jazz in the final game of his career at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/565e2f52d008bac40f8adf3b8f2d78e98ce49545755cfdaea25565ac154ee4c4.jpg)
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are in an era of transition. In truth, they have been for a few years now, but it begins in earnest now that Kobe Bryant has officially retired.
Luke Walton now runs the show in Los Angeles, in what was largely deemed a fantastic hire. The Kobe-less Lakers will have a different look. The Lakers, aided by multiple high draft picks, have begun to rebuild their core. For the first time in a long time, the key pieces in purple and gold don’t include Kobe Bryant.
Now, it’s D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, and rookie Brandon Ingram.
The Lakers did make what many considered to be a head-scratching decision to give Timofey Mozgov $64 million in free agency. Overall, this will be a wait-and-see approach as far as judgement is concerned. The Lakers were going to spend money somewhere, and they expect Mozgov to be a good fit.
The reason for optimism within the Lakers is the young core, though. The Lakers have had dreams in recent years of signing high-profile free agents. It hasn’t worked out, but if the young core, especially Ingram, develops over the next few years, Los Angeles should once again become a destination for free agents.
Next: Golden State Warriors