This season, Los Angeles Lakers Nation was fresh with optimism for the first time since the Kobe Bryant era. It was for good reason, too. In 2017, Lakers President of Basketball Ops. Magic Johnson landed hometown UCLA star Lonzo Ball, unknown prospect Kyle Kuzma from Utah, and two-way specialist Villanova champion Josh Hart in last year’s draft.
The expectations soared through the roof. Lonzo Ball’s father placed tremendous amounts of pressure on the rookie. D’Angelo Russell was shipped off to Brooklyn to acquire former All-Star center, Brook Lopez. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was signed to a lucrative $17M contract to help win now.