The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

AFTER a five-game skid heading into last night’s match-up with the New York Knicks, you might be surprised about what I have to say about the Los Angeles Lakers.

With a 10-15 win-loss record this season, 2-8 in their last 10 and losers of five consecutive games, the 2016-2017 Lakers are poised for not only a run at the eighth seed spot in the Western Conference but are built for a run at multiple championships over the next decade.

We all know that Jim Buss’ run as the team’s president of basketball operations has not gone exactly as planned.

Jimmy billed last season as a turning point for the Lakers; it ultimately evolved into Kobe’s farewell tour after he was unexpectedly “taken to the woodshed” by the Blazers’ C J McCollum early last season and the Lakers seemingly never advanced to a point where Kobe allowed the young guys to have a run at it. There were moments in that season where the young guys started games with fire in their eyes, all to have ‘The Mamba’ step in an basically say, “settle down young fella, your turn will eventually come”.

Trust me, I am a Kobe Bryant fan.

That mix of ideals lead the Lakers to its worst season in franchise history, concluding with the selection of Duke’s Brandon Ingram as the number two overall Draft pick. The addition of Ingram and fellow draftee, 19-year-old, Croatian seven-footer, Ivica Zubac to a young core of 2014’s seventh overall draft pick, Julius Randle, 46th overall pick, Jordan Clarkson, and 2015’s number two overall draft pick, D’Angelo Russell, provided the Lakers with the best compliment of youth talent of any team in the NBA.

Now the Lakers are comprised of eight players under-30, led by a trio young stars - Clarkson, Randle and Russell. At a price tag of $21.1m combined this year, the Lakers are getting the best bang for their buck with this combination.

The reality is, through their recent struggles, these Lakers have managed to pull in 10 wins, a feat the team had not achieved last season until early February. This achievement alone makes the acquisition of Luke Walton as head coach the best signing of the off-season.

Be as critical as you want about his age, but be fair. There is no coach in this league doing a better job of inspiring his young stars to get out there and give it their all.

Sure, the defence isn’t what it should be, nor is the intensity on a night-to-night basis (the Lakers allowed more than 30 points in three of the four quarters in its last game).

Based on statistics, the most accomplished players on this team are Jose Calderon, Luol Deng, Lou Williams, Nick Young and Timofey Mozgov - in that order.

Luke Walton converted this bunch, and a group of “rookies”, into a huge run earlier this year, one derailed only by injuries.

Russell is still recovering from a knee injury which has kept him out since late November. Randle is still hampered by his hip injury. But the heart shown by this team is something to marvel at. While far from perfect, the young guys have been tremendous and spectacular to watch when all are healthy and passionate.

Saying all of this, I know it has been a long journey back from oblivion. But don’t panic: the Lakers were never playing to go 82-0.

The team’s focus this year has always been development; the same development put on the back burner for Kobe last year. Statistics don’t matter. To an extent, wins don’t even matter - we are not playing for June, 2017.

Sure, the playoffs would be nice but developing these young guys to the point that they become the new faces of this league - that’s the 2017 success we should want and covet.

• Ricardo Wells writes Fourth Quarter Press every Monday. Comments to rwells@tribunemedia.net