If Laker fans hope—actually, expect—a fast turnaround, last week’s draft that brought D’Angelo Russell and two more of the top 34 picks was a reminder how tricky the process is going to be.
The announcement of Russell’s selection at No. 2 prompted cries of anguish from the half of Lakerdom that wanted Jahlil Okafor. The Los Angeles Times’ Bill Plaschke kept from passing out long enough to tweet, “wow… crazy… wow… unreal… you’ve got to be kidding.”
No, they were serious.
The Lakers measured Okafor at 6-9 1/2 in stocking feet. Low post prodigy that was, without great length or hops, they thought he was more of a power forward than a center.
“You look around this building,” said GM Mitch Kupchak, noting the retired numbers on the wall at the practice facility. “You see [Wilt] Chamberlain and you see [Kareem Abdul-] Jabbar and you see Shaquille [O’Neal]. Those are three pretty good centers. There was a center available that we did not select….
“You still need quality big men in this league. If any of those players on the wall were available, we would have selected him.”
Of course, there was one center that big who was available. He just wasn’t in the draft.
The half of Lakerdom that wanted Russell was dismayed when word got out that the team would like to resume talks with Sacramento for DeMarcus Cousins with the new No. 2 pick on the table.
Actually, I let the word out in a Forbes post after a source told me the Lakers would trade Russell for Cousins.
Of course, trading a player with Cousins’ potential to a division rival, much less the hated Lakers, would be unthinkable under ordinary circumstances, but these aren’t them.
George Karl, the Kings’ third coach in two seasons under new owner Vivek Ranadive, is in a too-public battle of wills with Cousins, whose people put out word that DeMarcus could be happy to be a Laker.
The Kings actually talked to the Lakers up until the draft, if only so they could tell DeMarcus that nothing was possible. Making sure that it wasn’t, the Kings reportedly asked for the No. 2 pick that became Russell, plus Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle and future picks.
The next move is up to Ranadive, who has yet to explain how he will reconcile his star and his coach, or which one he will keep.
Talks have yet to resume. A trade is unlikely even if they do. As much trouble as Cousins has been, not even Vivek is crazy enough to send him to the Lakers.
The Lakers’ next pick was at No. 27, where surprise had barely registered at their darkhorse selection, Wyoming’s Larry Nance Jr., when word surfaced that in 2012, he had tweeted a joke about Kobe Bryant needing to keep “his hands to himself” with the hashtag, “#rapist.”
How did Nance know he was going to be a Laker?
If the Lakers are no longer Bryant’s team going into what many expect will be his last season, it’s not good to suggest that to his face, much less tread on the forbidden ground surrounding his 2003 arrest for sexual assault, in which charges were dropped and a settlement reached with the complainant.
Of course, as Bryant continued to play in the 2003-04 season while commuting back to forth to Aspen, Colo., he’s capable of handling anything he feels like handling.
Bryant quickly let this one go—publicly—telling ESPN’s Jemele Hill:
“He actually sent me a great message, which is really funny. I looked at it, and it was like, ‘This is when you know it’s about time to hang these things up, when your teammate writes you, Hi, Mr. Bryant….’
“It was really nice and apologetic about what had happened.
“I said, ‘Dude, listen, we’ve all said things and done things that we regret and wish we could take back. It’s water under the bridge, man. Welcome to the team.’
“He writes back, ‘Thank you, sir.'”
Nevertheless, Nance had better not switch out onto Bryant in scrimmages, or, if he must, better not stand under the basket so Kobe can dunk on his head.
The whole thing was a reminder that this will be a long process, and no part of it is easy.
It’s a long way from 21-61 to the playoffs in the West, much less the heights the Lakers used to call home.
Even with a coup in free agency, a return to the playoffs would require climbing over the eight teams that made it plus Oklahoma City with Kevin Durant, up-and-coming Utah and the newest, youngest, brightest NBA team, Minnesota.
With the incredible-looking duo of Karl Towns and Andrew Wiggins, no one expects the Timberwolves to make the playoffs, yet they’re ahead of the Lakers.
On the other hand, after two seasons of marking time, the Lakers are finally on their way back.
Hall of Fame writer Mark Heisler is a founding member and regular contributor to SheridanHoops, as well as the Los Angeles Daily News and Forbes.com. Follow him on Twitter.