Some of those guys just need to get healthy and start improving their body in the gym. And in the kitchen too.
The problem is we need a superstar. Look at Philly...they got Simmons and Embiid...2 years ago they were 10-72 and now 52-30...thats a 40 game swing within 24 months, mostly without Fultz too. Why? because they got 2 potential superstars. Thats what it takes in the NBA. The Lakers have a loooot of young talented players but none has shown superstar potential and that is an issue...because 5 excellent young players get you 35-40 wins while 2 potential superstars get you 50 wins. Thats the NBA.
Disagree with haven't "shown". The flashes are definitely there for multiple players. Need body maturation and more consistency. Some guys come into the league like Embiid and Simmons physically ready.
I'm on the fence about whether or not any of them have flashed "star" potential. For me (completely subjectively) a star is someone who takes over the game in such a way that we win that game on their back. I think all of our young guys have "taken over a game" at different points, but the stretch doesn't last long. Kuzma might be the closest... I'm still 1000% on board with adding at least one star this summer and skipping the need to rely on youngsters to mature over one summer, but I am ecstatic with our young cast.
What a game from Hart! Watching that game I was thinking to myself, "Well they're sort of feeding him and letting it go through him, so is it that impressive?" but as he continued to excel and perform, it just can't be denied. Not every player in the league can even get to 30 points, let alone get there in an efficient and effective manner. I know we're watching what is essentially two D-League teams play each other, but that would mean Josh Hart (as our best player) went at DeAndre Jordan (as their best player) and beat him. DeAndre Jordan is no slouch. That's a damn impressive game for the young man. I've been vocal about moving pieces we need to in order to clear cap room. I've said Hart might be a piece I'd be willing to move in order to make space if we needed to. I'm not 100% off that boat because I need to see exactly what we're getting, but that other team needs to blow my socks off to get to Hart or Kuzma.
Josh and Kuz go nowhere unless it's for a superstar like Kawhi. In the meantime, Zu and picks should be enough to add to Deng to get him off our backs finally. Under no circumstances do we include Hart in a Deng dump. He's just too good, too valuable and too cheap. The kid stays.
Hart is a starting 2 guard in this league, because of his 2 way talent. This was definitely the draft that can change our future to the better
Jesse Buss got the good Buss genes. Killed this last draft. Props to Magic / Rob for pulling that trigger.
