By: Faisal Quyyumi, contributing intern (@_faisalquyyumi) The Los Angeles Lakers went into the 2015 summer of free agency with high aspirations and a plan to totally rebuild their franchise. With LaMarcus Aldridge, Jimmy Butler, Rajon Rondo, and Kevin Love on the market, the sky was their limit. When you think of the Los Angeles Lakers a few adjectives that might come to mind are championships, legacy, and immortality. And when listing all time greats it’s only fair too mention Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Kobe Bryant, and many more. In regards to such a rich history and demand for excellence, you would expect at least a few of these stars would sign to the Lakers right? Absolutely not. All of the biggest free agents available decided to either re-sign with their current team or take their talents to another franchise, which will give them a better chance to win an NBA championship. Adding any of the free agents listed above would have given the Lakers a much added spark and a tiny bit of hope that could help Kobe Bryant return to the playoffs in the last year left on his contract. Adding NBA Champion Rajon Rondo would have added a healthy and highly knowledgeable point guard to a team who has been plagued with unathletic or injury prone guards over the past few years. Rondo decided to take his talents too the west coast, but ended up signing a one-year deal with the Sacramento Kings worth $9.5 million. One-third of the new big three in Cleveland, Kevin Love decided to ink a massive contract with the Cavaliers worth $113 million over 5 years. At only 26 years of age, Love is putting up amazing career numbers of 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game. While standing at 6 foot 10 inches, Love would have helped spread the floor on offense while shooting a modest 36% from deep. The next free agent would have been the best addition for the Lakers this summer in hopes for a long-time franchise player; the young, aggressive, passionate, athletic, two-way guard, Jimmy Butler III. This season Butler’s stats increased exponentially from previously averaging 13 points a game to 20 points, and 23 during the playoffs. Granted given more playing time and making the best of it, he received his first All-Star nod along with winning the NBA Most Improved Player. Butler decided to stay in the Windy City and sign a five-year, $95 million deal. With Butler back to complement Rose in Chicago, this can develop into one of the most threatening backcourts for years too come. Last but not least, the biggest free agent on the market, LaMarcus Aldridge. Aldridge is the only player to average at least 21 points and 8 rebounds for the past five seasons. After meeting with the Lakers head office alongside Kobe Bryant, reports came out that Aldridge and Bryant didn’t seem to be on the same page. Bryant mentioned the past and bragged about his previous accolades and ability to win rings, whereas Aldridge wanted to hear about himself being the future of the franchise and bringing more championships to Staples Center. The Lakers were given a second chance and this time Aldridge met with general manager Mitch Kupchak and head coach Bryan Scott but without Kobe Bryant in attendance. By the morning of July 9th, Aldridge made up his mind and signed a four-year, $80 million contract with the San Antonio Spurs. Although the Lakers didn’t exactly acquire whom they had their eyes on they have added a few role players, which can help the team slowly rebuild. The three biggest yet somewhat confusing signings for the Lakers are that of Roy Hibbert, Brandon Bass, and Lou Williams. The Lakers are known for creating their rosters around some of the greatest centers in sports history; Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O’Neal, George Mikan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Although Roy Hibbert is a 2-time NBA All-Star, the past few seasons have shown his weakness. During the 2014 playoffs, Hibbert recorded four scoreless postseason games and saw his numbers drop slightly despite shooting a career best from the charity stripe (82.4%). But with the signing of Roy Hibbert this can also help add a solid defensive anchor that can protect the paint and use his aggression to post up smaller defenders. Hibbert is expected to make about $15 million a year in Los Angeles. The signing of power-forward Brandon Bass is much more understandable. While in college Bass was one of the most dominant big man, which led him to win the 2005 SEC Player of the Year. Last year, he averaged almost 11 pounds and 5 rebounds while putting up a career best 1.3 assists per game while playing for the Boston Celtics. Although not entirely sure whether Bass will start are not, he will definitely help provide a spark either way while playing with aggression. One of the best high-school basketball players in recent years, current 2015 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, Lou Williams has decided to also join the Lakers. During the 2010-2011 NBA season, Williams led the Philadelphia 76er’s in scoring (14.9) despite being sixth man. He is one of the few players in the league that can immediately provide pure offensive at any given moment and can torch defenses with his fast release. After coming off a marvelous season averaging fifteen and a half points, Williams’s offensive prowess is much needed alongside Kobe Bryant who will be 37 once the season starts. Williams’s deal with the Lakers is for 3 years and worth $21 million. Too say this off-season has been surprising for the Lakers would be an understatement, but it can’t guarantee them much hope for the following year. The Western Conference has only become tougher with key additions to already talented teams and re-signings of players who are on teams that are on the verge to a deeper run in the playoffs. For next season we should expect the Lakers to become either 11th or 12th seed and may be a dark-horse candidate too make the playoffs in a few seasons.
