Should Los Angeles ‘throw away’ the season?

The Los Angeles team, led by LeBron James who is doing it all, suffered its fourth loss of the season in its last game, after leading by as many as 15 points. This has been the reflection of a season full of disappointments and injuries. Of bad directions and decisions, both from the board of directors and the coaching staff and management.

Fran Vogel’s team currently occupies tenth place in the Western Conference with a 30-41 record.

Considering that, with what has been seen, the team is not good enough for much more, is it time to ‘throw away’ the season? Or does the imminent return of Anthony Davis change things? Our experts answer these questions and more.

1. Should the Lakers ‘throw away’ the season?
   No. While the season has not been what was expected from a team that was built to fight for the top spots in the West, they are in Play-in positions for now. As long as they stay there, anything can happen. We will have to wait for their opponent in that round. Lakers must go game by game; they have 11 games left to play. The bad news for them is that, except for the New Orleans Pelicans and Oklahoma City Thunder, the rest of their opponents are teams with a percentage above .500. However, LeBron and company will want to sell a possible elimination and with the experience and quality they have, an upset or a headache for more than one of their future rivals cannot be ruled out.

Beyond throwing the season away or not, it must be reaffirmed that the season has been lost for a long time. For most of the year it was thought that at some point the team would click, but that has not happened. LeBron’s great season aside, there presumably isn’t much time left for miracles, especially if the rotation features players who didn’t start in the season like Stanley Johnson or Wenyen Gabriel (two-way contract) and consistently get minutes on the court.

The three wins in the last 10 games speak loud and clear that not much can be expected from this team for the remainder of the schedule. And with the uncertainty about when Anthony Davis might return, the reality is that there is not much reason to think that things can change. But one thing is clear: “throwing the season away” at this point is not going to make his future any easier or bring him any benefit.

Yes, if we already know the outcome eventually, why would it be better to move the process forward? First, Russell Westbrook should no longer wear a Lakers jersey. The earlier the decision is made, the better. It doesn’t work. He’s a future Hall of Famer, no doubt. But at this stage of his career, with these Lakers, he’s not good enough. Second, a change in management. Frank Vogel has run his course. The Lakers are not about winning a championship. It’s about competing for it every year.

LeBron is in the final stretch of his career. With this team it will be enough for him to make the Play In. There, perhaps with the return of Anthony Davis, he will advance to the first round of the playoffs. It could be the Phoenix Suns or Memphis Grizzlies. Even the Warriors. They have no chance of beating either.

2. If they are out of the play-in or 1st round of the playoffs, what should be the next step?
   Start to sound the market, clean up the roster and start building, but not around LeBron James, he is no longer the future of the franchise nor can he be the one who influences the arrival or departure of players. The Lakers can hardly be a contender again next season if they keep hoping that James will save every game, or that his presence on the court will be enough to motivate the rest of his teammates. It didn’t happen in this one and it won’t happen in the next one. Lakers let go of players who were not to James’ liking and who proved their quality in other teams. That was a mistake by management that they are now paying for.

What lies ahead for the Lakers is an intense summer, both team-wise and at the franchise level. They will need to do some deep self-evaluation, recognize mistakes and not repeat them again. At the team level, it’s all about rebuilding a roster that obviously wasn’t successful. Looking to transfer Russell Westbrook is a necessity, both for the franchise and the player, as it was an idea that did not work. The model of three max contracts completed with several contracts for the veteran minimum, is not the route to go, but will have to try to build back around LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Is Rob Pelinka the ideal GM, is it enough with him and Kurt Rambis as a consultant to put together a competitive roster, is it the ideal time for Jeannie Buss to decide to bet on people who are not in her circle of acquaintances to bring back the mystique to the franchise, and if so, will it be the right time for Jeannie Buss to decide to bet on people who are not in her circle of acquaintances to bring back the mystique to the franchise? All these questions should be answered next summer.

Once Westbrook’s departure is confirmed, and then some, deal with the issue of Rob Pelinka. He clearly didn’t do his homework. So much so that, in a still bizarre compliment, LeBron publicly praised Thunder GM Sam Presti. What was James looking for, to send a message? The truth is that, in the city of Los Angeles, the credit thing ends early. And it’s becoming more and more common to associate the Lakers with the label of loser. And that’s unsustainable.

3. Fact or fiction: Frank Vogel will be the Lakers’ coach next season.
   Fiction. Vogel’s time on the Lakers bench is numbered unless he does what he hasn’t done so far this season down the stretch and in the playoffs. Maybe that would extend his stay in Los Angeles. And maybe a change of helm is what the team needs for next season if they don’t manage to make too many changes to the roster. People on the bench with a clear mind, free from the atmosphere of the Los Angeles locker room, which should not be an easy thing to control.

Fiction. Vogel’s days as coach of the Lakers have been numbered for quite some time and the franchise will be looking for new air and new directions with another coach. The decision has been made. Rumors of a change have been heard for some months. They did not materialize, but it is said that when the river sounds it is because it brings a lot of water. It was even mentioned that Vogel would be given the possibility to finish the season (and the contract) and that in principle they would look for a successor in the same coaching staff: Phil Handy, David Fizdale were the names heard. When results are not forthcoming, the thread is always cut by the thinnest of threads.

Fiction. Frank Vogel has nothing new to contribute to these disastrous Lakers. The fans thank him for his work in winning the bubble championship. But in Los Angeles you always have to win. But beware, he is not to blame for the departure of Caruso and the arrival of Westbrook. His successor? Aside from his assistant David Fizdale, I throw out another name I’d like: Terry Stotts. The former Trail Blazers coach is free and has always been fond of the Los Angeles team. He’s a great coach.